TIL: How Chameleons Change Color | Today I Learned

scientists thought that chameleons
change color by changing the pigment in
their skin not true how they actually
change color is far more complex
basically they have these nano salt
crystals within their skin cells and
those crystals refract light so how a
chameleon actually changes color is by
tuning or actually physically changing
how close those salt crystals are to
each other those crystals refract a
different wavelength which makes them
appear as though they’re changing from
green to blue to red to orange that’s
cool without larger scavengers to help
them out vultures have to go for the
softest part of the carcass first like
the eyeballs and the button