Did you know that the army uniforms are mud colored because that helps to make them less visible in their surroundings because their uniforms blend into the background. This makes them more difficult to spot by the enemy and thus offers them protection. This technique is known as camouflaging.
Let's say that lizards are also camouflaging themselves by changing color. When the lizard changes its color to suit its surroundings, it blends into the background. Thus, it is not that easily visible to its predators like birds and snakes. So, this is a natural defense mechanism of lizards.
A chameleon also changes color during mating to exhibit its territorial rights.
However, lizards cannot change into just about any color. They have color ranges between which they can change. Usually these colors range between green, gray and brown.
Now, how do lizards change color? They have certain pigments under their skin (which is transparent). In different surroundings, different cells open up and absorb the light in such a way that the light reflected is similar to the color of the background. The lizard and the background appear the same color in this way.
Let's say that lizards are also camouflaging themselves by changing color. When the lizard changes its color to suit its surroundings, it blends into the background. Thus, it is not that easily visible to its predators like birds and snakes. So, this is a natural defense mechanism of lizards.
A chameleon also changes color during mating to exhibit its territorial rights.
However, lizards cannot change into just about any color. They have color ranges between which they can change. Usually these colors range between green, gray and brown.
Now, how do lizards change color? They have certain pigments under their skin (which is transparent). In different surroundings, different cells open up and absorb the light in such a way that the light reflected is similar to the color of the background. The lizard and the background appear the same color in this way.
