Communication

Colour changes are not used as a disguise, but makes the chameleon more conspicuous because the intent if not to hide but to communicate.

Colour plays a role in courtship for many animals, including reptiles. Instead of fanning tail feathers or wearing a perpetual bright crest, chameleons dress for each occasion. When a male locates a sexually mature female, he adopts his flashiest colours and bobs his head in a special pattern. The colours and head bobbing choreography differ among species, but all exhibit some variation. Temperature determines the speed of head jerking - the warmer, the faster.