There’s a peacock spider sitting on a rock. He’s tiny. Yet you


can see streaks of red, blue, and yellow. His green eyes sparkle. He wants to get another spider’s attention. He waves at her. He raises his back end. Two flaps


unfold. T ey’re red, orange, and yellow. All these colors make him look like a colorful peacock. Suddenly, he waves his back end


like a fan. He dances from side to side. He waves two of his black legs. He puts on quite a show. Many animals have bright colors


like this spider. Each kind of animal uses its colors in diff erent ways. Some, like this spider, use color to


get attention. Others use it to blend in, for camouflage. Still others use color to warn away other animals. All of these animals use color to survive.


This chameleon can send a message with its colorful skin.


Look This Way Let’s take a look at how some of these animals use color. In a rain forest, a chameleon clings to a vine. His skin is green with red, white, orange, and yellow bands. T e chameleon sits very still. Only


his eyes move. Each eye moves in a diff erent direction. Suddenly, both eyes look at another chameleon.


Chameleon Showdown Chameleons are territorial. T ey don’t like other chameleons in their space. So the first chameleon puff s up his body to look bigger. His red bands get darker. Blue stripes appear. He opens his yellow mouth and hisses. T e other chameleon turns


light brown and runs away. Both chameleons used color as signals. Dark colors can mean fear or anger. A pale color signals defeat.


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