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The Process Of Color Change In Chameleons

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The process of color change in chameleons is simply fascinating. What happens is that chameleons have a top layer of the skin that is transparent, and underneath it there are layers of skin, which contain chromatophores (these are specialized cells that contain pigment). Beneath the transparent layer, there is a layer with xanthophores (contains yellow pigments) and erythrophores (contains red pigments). Under this layer is layer with iridophores (contain blue pigments). At the bottom are melanophores (contain melanin. Despite the popular belief, chameleons don’t change colors on the whim to match their environment, but instead to communicate change in mood or temperature. In these occasions, their chromatophores either expand or contract,

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