Zoologists have discovered that, contrary to what may be thought, the change in color of the skin of chameleons is not a mere method of camouflage, but rather occurs depending on their mood , ambient light, their temperature body and, above all, the message they want to convey to their peers.
In fact, not all chameleon species have the ability to modify their appearance , and some can only be covered in green, brown or gray. For this reason, it is believed that the communication capacity of these sauropsids is the evolutionary key that explains that certain varieties show a wider range of tonalities. Different colorations and patterns indicate characteristics such as territoriality, in the case of males, or receptivity to mating, in that of females.
The brighter they are, the more dominant an individual will be , fending off potential invaders and attracting individuals of the opposite sex. Thus, gray, brown and even black tones are a sign of submission or fear. The panther chameleon, for example, appears red and yellow when it prepares to attack. In females, the striking colorations express that they will reject their suitors or that they are pregnant.
