I have been doing a research on animal camouflage. It is quite intriguing to note that some animals do not just blend with the environment for survival, but change colours as a means of communication.
According to Anderson, the ability of chameleons to change colour stems from special cells called chromatophores found in the upper layers of their skin. These cells are filled with different kinds of pigment.
Reptiles communicate with each other via changes in their colour. He's found that the colour shifts often express territorial dominance or unwillingness to mate.
"Males become more brightly marked to advertise their dominance," Raxworthy said. "Females become dark or flash red spots to advertise their hostile response to males or their non-receptive status. Aggressive chameleons may become very dark."
Whatever the colour signals mean, the tropical reptiles' unusual ability has earned them a fan base among humans.
Are we as human being not sending special meanings through the clothes we wear to other people ? What messages are you conveying through the clothes you wear?
Well it is fascinating what you are talking about. Well with human I think it depend, when it come to the majority of men I don't think that it is a form of communication but with women maybe it is true.Just think of few occasion like the SAMA awards, the Durban July Jack pot, the opening of Parlimentary session, may be it sends a message of some kinds.
ReplyDeleteAmazingly elaborated Dan, never thought about that! I concur with Ntsakos that it is mostly women who take into cognizance the colour combination as a form of communication. With calendered special mega events, they always come up with a theme colour for each specific event.
ReplyDeleteI initially thought that chameleons use colour shifts to camouflage from possible predatory attacks. I'm always fascinated about behaviour, and through you publication I learned a great deal.