Travel in Madagascar, the country of lemurs and chameleons, and you will end up singing "I like to move it, move it", or "Karma Chameleon" more than you'd choose to. Once the tunes are in your head, it's very hard to get rid of it them. As we're driving back from a weekend trip to Vakona Forest Lodge (which is, by the way, lovely!) with our friends Olivier and Amena, we stopped at the Peyieras Exotic park.
It is a small park with chameleons, butterflies and crocs. Seeing those beautifully colored chameleons actually made me think about Boy George, where he sings loving would be easy if the colors were like my dream, red, gold and green, red, gold en green. Chameleons really are red, gold and green! Some of them at least.
Did you know that there are 50 different species of chameleon in Madagascar? Truly amazing with their grumpy faces, their curly tails and their 360 degree rolling eyeballs.
Okay this all may be true, but I still like to believe otherwise. Check this picture! This little one just turned purple to match my shirt!
Did you know that there are 50 different species of chameleon in Madagascar? Truly amazing with their grumpy faces, their curly tails and their 360 degree rolling eyeballs.
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| Karma Karma Karma Chameleon - Red Gold and Green... |
But now I have to share a secret truth with you - something I have learned from my daughter Soleine's lessons at the American School. I hope I'm not bursting your bubble here but: chameleons can not change their color to blend into their surroundings.
They don't just change any color, they will not just switch to polka dots, or stars and stripes. Actually, most chameleons change between brown and gray.
Here's some chameleon facts:
- Each species has its own color range
- Chameleons change because of light or temperature
- They also change based on mood - when they're angry for example
- Their color changes by opening and closing cells named melanophores.
- They also change based on mood - when they're angry for example
- Their color changes by opening and closing cells named melanophores.
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| Is he changing in to stripes of Antoine's t-shirt? |
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| Most chameleons are grey or brown |
Okay this all may be true, but I still like to believe otherwise. Check this picture! This little one just turned purple to match my shirt!
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| This little one matches my purple t-shirt |
Read more: How & Why Chameleons Change Color | Lizards | Changing Mood http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1740-colors-of-a-chameleon#ixzz1KGty7114
And your face changed to "fear!"
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