十万个为什么·科学阅读30篇（4）

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变色龙变色，真的只是为了伪装吗？

Chameleons shift colors using specialized skin cells called chromatophores layered beneath transparent scales.
Iridophores—cells containing nanocrystals—reflect specific wavelengths by adjusting crystal spacing.
This structural color change works like a tunable mirror, producing vivid blues, greens, and whites without pigments.
Pigment cells (melanophores) underneath add brown, black, or red tones for fine-tuning and contrast.
Color shifts respond to mood, temperature, health, and social context—not just background matching.
Males brighten during courtship or territorial disputes, while stressed individuals may turn dark gray.
Cooler temperatures trigger darker hues to absorb more sunlight and warm up faster.
Some species even display UV-reflective patterns invisible to humans but clear to other chameleons.
Scientists mimic iridophore mechanics to design adaptive camouflage fabrics and anti-counterfeit security inks.
Despite myths, most chameleons change slowly—over minutes—not instantly like cartoon characters.