Ilaphu elithi “Chameleon” likwaziwa ngokuba lilaphu elitshintsha ubushushu, ilaphu elibonisa ubushushu, ilaphu elinobuthathaka kubushushu. Liya kutshintsha umbala ngobushushu, umzekelo, ubushushu balo bangaphakathi bungumbala, ubushushu bangaphandle buphinde bube nombala ohlukileyo, linokutshintsha umbala ngokukhawuleza kunye notshintsho lobushushu obuphakathi, lenze into enemibala ibe nefuthe lombala lotshintsho olutshintshayo.
Izinto eziphambili zelaphu le-chameleon zii-pigment ezitshintsha umbala, izizalisi kunye nezihlanganisi. Umsebenzi walo wokutshintsha umbala uxhomekeke kakhulu kwii-pigment ezitshintsha umbala, kwaye utshintsho lombala ngaphambi nasemva kokufudumeza kwee-pigment lwahlukile ngokupheleleyo, olusetyenziswa njengesiseko sokugweba ubunyani beetikiti.