While many animals have eyes that appear to change color based on lighting conditions, there are very few animals that actually change their eye color permanently.
One notable example is the chameleon. These reptiles are famous for their ability to change their skin color, and their eye color can also change, though it's less dramatic than the skin color changes.
Here's how it works:
- Pigment Cells: Chameleons have special cells called chromatophores in their skin and iris. These cells contain pigments that can be rearranged, causing the chameleon's color to shift.
- Light Reflection: The change in eye color is often due to the way light reflects off the chromatophores in the iris.
- Camouflage and Communication: The ability to change eye color is thought to help chameleons camouflage themselves and communicate with other chameleons.
