Join Molly and Arjun as they explore the colorful world of chameleons with chatty chameleon cabaret performers Kiki and Paul, as well as chameleon expert Chris Anderson. Learn about chameleons' color-changing abilities, powerful eyes, and super sticky saliva. Discover the reasons behind chameleons changing colors, including heat absorption, light reflection, and mood indication. Play a mystery sound game and hear the fascinating insights of a biology professor.
Chameleons change color in response to their environment and their mood, using it as a form of communication.
Chameleons have remarkable eyes that provide them with almost 360-degree vision and the ability to zoom in on objects like a camera.
Deep dives
Chameleons can change color based on their emotions
Chameleons change color in response to their environment and their mood. For example, when chameleons are cold, they change color to absorb more heat energy from the sun. Conversely, if chameleons are very warm, they turn pale to reflect more light. They also use color to communicate with other chameleons. Males may display brighter colors to show dominance, while females can indicate their receptiveness to male advances through coloration.
Chameleons have unique physical attributes
Chameleons have incredible eyes that can move in two directions at once, giving them almost 360-degree vision. They can also zoom in on objects like a camera. Chameleons can hang from their strong tails, which function like a fifth hand. Their tongues are twice the length of their bodies, and they can grab objects over four feet away. Chameleon saliva is extremely sticky, allowing them to catch insects. They have multiple layers of skin, and their ability to change color is due to the crystals in the second layer expanding and contracting.
Chameleons have a wide range of species and habitat
There are 228 different species of chameleons in the world, with almost half of them residing in Madagascar. Chameleons are found in a variety of habitats, from rainforests and deserts to mountains and coastal areas. They have been around for millions of years and have adapted to their environments, including developing colorations that help them blend in with their surroundings. Chameleons are fascinating creatures that continue to captivate scientists and enthusiasts alike.
Join Molly and co-host Arjun on a reptilian romp, where they learn all about chameleons’ color-changing abilities, powerful eyes, and super sticky saliva. Along the way, they’ll be joined by a pair of chatty chameleon cabaret performers — Kiki and Paul — and chameleon expert Chris Anderson! Color yourself excited for this awesome creature feature, and an all-new mystery sound!
If you want to learn more about chameleons, check out co-host Arjun’s own podcast, Animals Rule! He has an episode all about these loungey lizards, plus a ton of other amazing animals: https://spotify.link/KZrepYscSDb
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