Kaleidoscope at Birth: The Hidden Palette of Calumma cristifer

Chameleon hatchlings often display a surprising range of colors before developing their adult patterns. In Calumma cristifer, newborns may appear orange, maroon, or brown, and as they grow, they can pass through an array of hues including green, blue, pinkish, and even violet. These colors are temporary and vanish once the typical adult coloration emerges, yet they remain one of the most fascinating aspects of early ontogeny. The reasons behind this variability are not understood. While camouflage might seem a logical explanation, the colors often fail to match the environment, appearing instead as random expressions. For now, specialists recognize this phenomenon as unexplained, a reminder that even well‑studied Malagasy chameleons still hold mysteries awaiting future discovery.