Episode 7: How Can Chameleons Change Color?
Hosts Mike and Chanel answer Bianca’s question with help from lizard expert, Lenna Lamping, and dive into the science behind this incredible ability!
Watch the Episode
Discover how these lizards change color, what drives this unique ability, and more fascinating chameleon facts!
Watch the Episode
Discover how these lizards change color, what drives this unique ability, and more fascinating chameleon facts!
Zooquarium Educational Activities
Bonus Video!
This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Jenna Lamping all about CHAMELEONS!
They continue their conversation about these fascinating reptiles, including their unique eyes and hands. PLUS, they talk about other animals that can change color.
This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Jenna Lamping all about CHAMELEONS!
They continue their conversation about these fascinating reptiles, including their unique eyes and hands. PLUS, they talk about other animals that can change color.
Our Featured Guest
Jenna Lamping has been a Reptile Keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden since 2018. Her passion/goal in life is to encourage people to understand and appreciate all wildlife, especially those that are greatly misunderstood - just like her favorite, the American Alligator. Reptiles have such a special and important part to play in our ecosystem. Jenna loves getting outside, observing these animals in their natural environments, and teaching others why they are to be revered instead of feared.
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MEET OUR HOSTS
MIKE BENNETT
He/Him
An artist, educator, and immersive space designer, Mike turns old buildings, house-paint and plywood into cartoon worlds with animal education and creativity at the helm. Mike brings his colorful characters to life to help curious kids (and kids at heart!) learn, laugh, and explore the world around them. Whether its cryptids, dinosaurs, ocean-life or lawn alphabets, Mike is always ready to tackle his next creative endeavor!
CHANEL HASON
She/Her
Chanel is a marine biologist, environmental educator, and lifelong animal lover who yearns to understand, and teach about, the natural world around us. She has led hands-on marine science programs in Puerto Rico for Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment, represented the United States at the Miss Scuba International pageant in Malaysia, and now serves as Director of Outreach & Community Relations for the Elakha Alliance, where she’s helping restore Oregon’s sea otter population. Chanel shares her passion for wildlife and conservation through fun, curious, and inspiring conversations.
Bianca asks: How Can Chameleons Change Color? What an amazing question! It's pretty well known that theycanchange color, but how they do it is definitely a mystery. Luckily hosts Mike and Chanel know a lizard expert, Lenna Lamping from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, who can help explain this unique characteristic.
Jenna has been a Reptile Keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden since 2018. Her passion/goal in life is to encourage people to understand and appreciate all wildlife, especially those that are greatly misunderstood - just like her favorite, the American Alligator. Reptiles have such a special and important part to play in our ecosystem. Jenna loves getting outside, observing these animals in their natural environments, and teaching others why they are to be revered instead of feared.
Be sure to download quizzes, activity sheets, and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!
- Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's website!
- Listen to the Cincinnati Zoo Tales podcast
- Learn about the Portland Aquarium
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- Subscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube Channel
- Follow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanel
- Learn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.org
The Zooquarium releases episodes about different animals every other Tuesday with bonus content for each episode the following week. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube, Spotify, and here at thezooquarium.com/podcast
Credits
- Hosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel Hason
- Guest: Jenna Lamping
- Produced & Edited by: Jon Richardson
- Music by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland Sings
- Intro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle Animation
- Artwork by: Fuzzzbrain
Special thanks to: Bianca & Bianca's family, Jenna Lamping, Michele Kraus Bennett, Cayley Pater, The Elakha Alliance, Teddy Albertson, chameleons in general