Ilaphu elithi "Chameleon" likwaziwa ngokuba liqondo lobushushu - ilaphu elitshintshayo, ubushushu - libonisa ilaphu, i-thermal - ilaphu elibuthathaka. Kukutshintsha umbala ngeqondo lobushushu ngokwenene, umzekelo ubushushu balo bangaphakathi bungumbala, ubushushu bangaphandle buba ngomnye umbala kwakhona, linokutshintsha umbala ngokukhawuleza kunye nokutshintsha kobushushu obuphakathi, yenze ibenombala into enombala wokutshintsha okuguquguqukayo ngaloo ndlela.
Izinto eziphambili zelaphu le-chameleon ziyi-pigment ezitshintsha umbala, ii-fillers kunye nezibophelelo.Umsebenzi walo wokutshintsha umbala ngokuyinhloko uxhomekeke kwi-pigment yokutshintsha umbala, kunye nokutshintsha kombala ngaphambi nangemva kokufudumeza kwee-pigments zihluke ngokupheleleyo, ezisetyenziswa njengesiseko sokugweba ukunyaniseka kwamatikiti.