Chameleons change colors by reorganizing nanocrystals
Chameleons have the remarkable ability to exhibit complex and rapid color changes during social interactions.
A new study demonstrates that the changes take place via the active tuning of a lattice of nanocrystals present in a superficial layer of dermal cells called iridophores.
Credit:
Photonic crystals cause active colour change in chameleons
Jérémie Teyssier, Suzanne V. Saenko, Dirk van der Marel & Michel C. Milinkovitch
Nature Communications doi:10.1038/ncomms7368