CHAMELEON Amazing Animals 3 Oz Silver Coin 7$ Niue 2021
 
Is the First release of the new AMAZING ANIMALS series, also includ:
2021 - CHAMELEON
2022 - PEACOCK
 
Gold and Silver Bullion Canada is very pleased to present this beautiful 3 oz high relief silver coin. First issue of the new "Amazing Animals" series, dedicated to the incredible world of animals. In this issue: The chameleon. The coin has an antique quality finish, features a holographic enamel application, has high relief and comes in a case, with certificate of authenticity.
 
On the reverse side of the coin, we can observe a beautiful cameleon in its natural environment in full attempt to capture an insect. The cameleon has a very nice bright color, is in very high relief on a beautiful sculture of a foliage pattern.
 
On the observe side of the coin, you can observe a very nice sculture of a twisted tail of a cameleon and very nice representation of the pattern of scales. We can see the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the face value of the coin and its country of circulation.
 
The Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards, with 202 species described as of June 2015. These species come in a range of colours, and many species have the ability to change colour.
 
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet, their swaying gait, and crests or horns on their brow and snout. Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensile tail. Chameleons’ eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision.
Chameleons are adapted for climbing and visual hunting. They live in warm habitats that range from rainforest to desert conditions, with various species occurring in Africa, Madagascar, Southern Europe, and across southern Asia as far as Sri Lanka. They have been introduced to Hawaii, California, and Florida.
 
Different chameleon species are able to vary their colouration and pattern through combinations of pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise, and purple. Chameleon skin has a superficial layer which contains pigments, and under the layer are cells with very small (nanoscale) guanine crystals. Chameleons change colour by “actively tuning the photonic response of a lattice of small guanine nanocrystals in the s-iridophores”.
 
Colour change in chameleons has functions in camouflage, but most commonly in social signalling and in reactions to temperature and other conditions. Colour change signals a chameleon’s physiological condition and intentions to other chameleons. Because chameleons are ectothermic, another reason why they change colour is to regulate their body temperatures, either to a darker colour to absorb light and heat to raise their temperature, or to a lighter colour to reflect light and heat, thereby either stabilising or lowering their body temperature. Chameleons tend to show brighter colours when displaying aggression to other chameleons, and darker colours when they submit or “give up”. Some species, particularly those of Madagascar and some African genera in rainforest habitats, have blue fluorescence in their skull tubercles, deriving from bones and possibly serving a signalling role. (from Wikipedia)