Cham markings

[JapSolum]

so I was wondering, it's seems like most chams have their own unique markings, even within same species and sex. are their markings purely random or is it passed down by genetics and/or environment?

 

[Syreptyon]

I would imagine most of the coloration is genetically contributed, similar to humans. While we primarily have one type of pigment (in the form of the pigment-containing cells, melanocytes), chameleons have, I believe, four (iridophores, melanophores, erythrophores, and xanthophores). Similar to how our skin color resembles a mix between our parents, so too should chameleons. There's is just a little bit more complex, but their pigments originate from the same transient stem cell type as ours. The individual variation is then due to the particular way the chameleons' parents' DNA recombines during embryogenesis, which leads to the unique color pallets we see in our chams!

As for environmental contribution, these changes typically occur over a larger time scale ("evolutionary time") and act as adaptations to changing environments. I could be wrong, but I doubt their particular environment affects particular chameleons' innate markings on such a short timeline.

 

[JacksJill]

^^Now that's an answer.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

If you know about transparent veiled chameleons, you know that the trait of transparent tissue is passed down through the generations of a single bloodline. If transparent flesh is hereditary, then why not the genetic arrangement of the iridophores in the skin as well?

 

[Wildwilson]

As my little guy gets older and his colors get more intense, i can look back at a picture of the sire and my little guy has three dots on his chin exactly where the sire did.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

As my little guy gets older and his colors get more intense, i can look back at a picture of the sire and my little guy has three dots on his chin exactly where the sire did.

So cute!