The secrets of color-changing chameleons revealed

[n2doc]

Scientists studying chameleon skin have discovered the secret to the lizards' color-changing prowess: Rather than relying purely on pigments, the animals use photonic nanocrystals in their skin to manipulate light with exquisite precision.

The findings, described in the journal Nature Communications, showcase the remarkable abilities of these colorful creatures in a whole new light.

The male panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) of Madagascar is an extremely talented shade-shifter. His thick-striped body can go from a blue-green palette to a fiery yellow-red-orange in a matter of minutes, if he wants to show off to an interesting lady lizard or a competing male.

When excited, their skin goes through some very specific color switches, the study authors wrote: Green goes to yellow or orange; blue patches turn whitish; and red becomes brighter and more uniform.

more

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-chameleon-color-change-structural-iridophore-photonic-crystals-20150310-story.html

[sunnystarr]

1. that solves the great dress debate lol

blue becomes white and black turns to gold. The Shade Shift(er) may skyrocket in popularity

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

2. The blue color in feathers is due to refraction of light. No blue pigments in feathers.

Interesting that the neon blue of a Zebra fish is that way too.

[hunter]

3. I'd love to know what they look like in the truer color vision of another chameleon.

If they look that crazy colorful to our own pathetic human version of color vision, they might be incredibly more colorful to creatures with tetrachromatic vision.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrachromacy

[tclambert]

4. Do chameleons ever malfunction and change to the wrong colors?

"I'm gonna turn green to hide in these leaves. Oh, no! I turned optic orange instead!"

[adieu]

5. They get seen

and caught and die and don't reproduce as often as those who don't malfunction.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Most wonderful image of a chameleon I've ever seen. Thanks for the article. n/t