chameleon

chameleon

Chameleon is the name given to all animals belonging to Chamaeleonidae family, one of the best known families of lizards.

There are about 80 species of chameleons, most of them in Africa south of the Sahara and is also present in Portugal and Spain. The chameleon distinguished from other lizards by the ability of some species change color, for their quick and elongated tongue for their eyes, which can be moved independently of one another, some members of the family prehensile tail. The family originated over 100 million years, when it separated from Agamidae family, according to the fossil record.

Etymology

The name "Chameleon" is derived from the Greek words significant "earth lion" Call (on the ground, on the floor) and leon (lion)

Physical characteristics

Chameleons have up to 60 centimeters long, with a very large tongue to catch their prey - eat moths, beetles, ladybugs, grasshoppers and flies; also eat leaves, mainly dry. They have prehensile tail and strong legs.

Moves slowly to not be noticed before the attack. To catch its prey, it uses the language that has a sticky tip. Can, with great speed, extend the language almost one meter. His tongue, sticky tip holds the insect and this is eaten. Study this process with the help of high-speed cameras. It feeds mainly on insects, among which are the grasshopper, ladybird, beetle, and many others.

Your eyes can be moved independently in any direction, which gives it curious look. When a chameleon sees prey, you can fix it with one eye and use the other to make sure no predators nearby. The chameleon's brain receives two separate images, you have to associate. As it approaches the prey, the chameleon fixed it both eyes to be able to aim.

The eyes are covered with a lid which leaves free only a small circular area in the center which corresponds to the iris and the pupil.

Her skin has very keratin, which presents a series of advantages (in particular, strength). But this feature makes the chameleon need to make "changes" skin during their growth (the old skin peels off, giving way to another), as do snakes and other lizards.

The Chameleon is a rare species for some people, some people doubt of their existence. In countries like Spain Chameleon is welcome and also very well known, where many people adopt them as pets.
Some chameleon species are able to change their skin color. Different chameleon species are able to change their color and pattern through combinations of pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise and purple.

The color change in the chameleon has functions at the registered signal and reaction temperature and other conditions, as well as camouflage. The relative importance of these functions varies according to the circumstances and species. The color change signals the physiological Chameleon condition and intentions of other chameleons. Chameleons tend to have darker colors when angry, or trying to scare or intimidate others, whereas males show lighter multicolored patterns when courting females.

Color change mechanism

For a long time it was thought that the chameleons changing color by pigment dispersion containing organelles inside your skin. However, recent research on chameleons Panther showed that this is not what happens.

Chameleons have two overlapping layers, inside your skin, which control its color and thermoregulation. The top layer contains a nanocrystal structure of guanine, and the spacing between these nanocrystals can be manipulated by exciting crystal lattice, which, in turn, affect the wavelengths of light that are reflected and which are absorbed. Excite the crystal lattice causes an increase in the distance between the nanocrystals and the skin begins to reflect wavelengths of light longer. Thus, when in relaxed state, the crystals reflect blue and green, but in an excited state, longer wavelengths such as yellow, orange and red are now reflected.