Language of Colour

The chameleon's ability to blend into its surroundings has led to a host of popular myths throughout the ages. Aristotle was the first to send Western science sniffing down the wrong track. Although he correctly deducted that chameleons changed colour in response to temperature, he also suggested that they tried to match their hue to their environment, an error that still persists in textbooks today. The true functions of the chameleon's colour change are more wonderful than Aristotle's inaccurate observations and the wild speculations of folklorists.

The chameleon's ability to change its skin colour has made it one of the most interesting creatures in the animal kingdom. It possesses the ability to instantly camouflage itself by changing its skin colour to match its surroundings. Though a puzzling feat, this feature of the chameleons makes it a magical as well as beautiful creature.

Communication is an important reason behind these colour changes. With colour, chameleons can communicate with others, expressing attitudes such as their willingness to mate. Contrary to popular belief, chameleons cannot display limitless colours and do not change colours in a camouflage response to their surroundings. Instead, their skin changes colour in response to temperature, light and mood.