Many times we say a certain person is like a chameleon, because they are untrustworthy; they change their colors which is a symbolic way of saying they will not remain faithful or honest if situations change. Whoever thought up of this comparison was certainly clever since the chameleon is a creature that can change its skin color to match the surroundings.

The chameleon is not the only creature that can do this - the octopus, the squid and cuttlefish all can alter their skin color to fool or remain safe from their prey. The chameleon just blends in with the plants or shrubs or trees and is hardly visible. But do you think the chameleon consciously does this? The answer is NO. In reality, the surroundings are not the influencing factor. The main causes of the skin-color change are the chameleon's emotional state, the sunlight, temperature etc.

The skin of the chameleon is supposed to be transparent and beneath the skin are layers of cells that contain yellow, red and black coloring matter. The chief compound contained in these cells is melanin, which is also present in human skin (this causes skin tan and protects the skin from the harsh sun). When the cells in the chameleon's skin expands, this melanin get scattered and produce the different colors. When the cells contract, the reverse happens, the melanin comes together and the skin color returns to the original green.