• Question: Can a blind chameleon still change colour?

    Asked by Rosie to Saiful, Petra, Jenny, Jawwad, Iain, Bethan on 18 Jan 2017.
    • Photo: Bethan Charles

      Bethan Charles answered on 18 Jan 2017:

      Yes.

      A cameleon’s eyesight has nothing to do with its ability to change colour. Cells called chromatophores in the cameleon’s skin changes colour to match their surroundings. But the cameleon does not need to be able to see for the chromatophores to do this.

Comments

  • Photo: abgb345

    abgb345 commented on :

    awesome

  • Photo: Karl

    Karl commented on :

    Although chameleons can still change colour even if they are blind, it’s worth noting that chameleons don’t actually change colour to match their backgrounds- they change colour because of their mood, the temperature, their health, for communication and how light it is.

    Having said that, other animals that DO change colour to match their surroundings like octopus and cuttlefish can match the colours, even though they are technically colourblind