Chameleons Change Color Only Based on the Colors of Their Surroundings
For a long time, it has been assumed that the primary reason chameleons change their body colors was for camouflage; to escape predators by blending into their surroundings. However, new research suggests there may be more to it than that.
Blending in with their environment is not the only thing recent studies have discovered that chameleons do; they also change their body color for several other reasons. These include maintaining a favorable body temperature, communicating, or reflecting on their moods. Furthermore, a male chameleon would often wear a bolder color like red or yellow when confronted by a rival male, regardless of its surroundings.