Chameleons Change Color To Stand Out, Not Blend In

There's a misconception that chameleons change their color to blend in to their surroundings but research shows the opposite is true. In fact, chameleons' baseline color is camouflage and they naturally blend in.
It's when chameleons want to express themselves that they dramatically change their color. The secret are iridophores, a layer of cells just beneath the chameleon's skin. And the faster they change their color, the more excited they are.