Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

so just how does this work then eh?

ie: speed, range of colours, pattern control etc..

what are its limitations?

thanks!

dantro · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject:

Straight from the net ....

Chameleons have specialized cells, collectively called chromatophores, that lie in layers under their transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively. Below these is another layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores, and they contain the colourless crystalline substance guanine. These reflect, among others, the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores appears mainly yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under the reflective iridophores. The melanophores influence the 'lightness' of the reflected light. All these different pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the colour of the chameleon.
nuff said ....
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Cheers
Dan
1.1.0 Ackies (10 eggs cooking) 4.9.6 Stenodactylus S. (22 eggs cooking)

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

anything a bit more hands on?

Phil1988 · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject:

Well my yemen male can switch from happy colours to p!ssed off colours in seconds. These are all from different times so there will probably be some size difference but you get the idea. Descriptions in the file comments...

There is also very bright colours for if he gets too hot and then he moves lower in his viv. Also the brightest colours I notice is when he's asleep.

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

gorgeous.

must be impressive when they change in seconds!

I see it keeps its pale bands all the time.

amazing creatures!

Phil1988 · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks he doesn't show his aggressive colours as much as that pic that was taken soon after I got him and he got ill and I had to inject him every couple of days for a couple of weeks. He didn't like this much at all but who can blame him. He doesn't come out anymore because he just plain doesn't like us and he seems quite content with knowing that we stay out of his tank.

He will hiss and puff up at me when I put food in his tank sometimes if I get too close to him though.

PaulG · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject:

haha a true yemen, just like mine.
mine is the same he is really light when he goes to bed!

chameleons do not change colour to suit there environment like the common myth is.
they change colour to suit there mood, the enviromental conditions and if they are stressed etc.
Paul

also when they are courting or when a ffemale is gravid.
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kinyonga · Contributing Member Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 126

Many chameleons will change color with their "moods"...the color change is a form of communication. Some also change colors to warm up or cool off. The color changes are almost instant if they are communicating their mood...a little slower if warming or cooling. Chameleons will also convey seriously ill health with their color.

The colors they can change to and the patterns they can take on vary from species to species....some do very dramatic color changes while some are more subtle. Same with the patterns.

For example...a young veiled will usually be pale green or brownish but if upset will take on a pattern of dark green over the pale green background. When mature, the females will tell the males they are gravid (pregnant) or non-receptive by making the background color dark and showing bright blue spots.

Scan to the bottom picture to see a non-receptive/gravid female...top picture shows somewhat agitated male...
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.martinsreptiles.co.uk/ukchams/assets/images/calyptratus/gravidveiledchameleon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.martinsreptiles.co.uk/ukchams/calyptratus_caresheet.htm&h=864&w=1152&sz=40&hl=en&start=144&um=1&tbnid=CUYr9x75Qch-gM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchameleons%2BAND%2Bphotos%26start%3D144%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Top picture (left) shows normal baby color...second one down shows slight pattern....
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.davidgardiner.net/3fingers_vs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.davidgardiner.net/chameleon.html&h=298&w=549&sz=34&hl=en&start=144&um=1&tbnid=-JXMZzQJ97v0QM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchameleons%2BAND%2Bphotos%26start%3D144%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Not only is color and pattern a part of their communication, but posture plays a part in it too. A male veiled meeting another male will flatten his body vertically, take on bright colors, expand his gular pouch, coil and uncoil his tail, hold one hand up near his chin, hiss, lunge, rock back and forth. A female that is non-receptive or gravid will not only darken her colors as I already described but hiss, gape, rock back and forth, lunge if the male is near enough, etc.

Hope this helps!

captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

those are some great pictures!

I was always one of those people who belived that they could change in seconds and become nearly invisible, but this makes it all much more clear.

Love the little buggers but want to get something a little more handleable for now.