Actually, I thought the same thing. I remember a study done with a UV meter, and they measured the uvb from the sun present in various situations. It was highest, of course, in midday sun, lowest in the shade. HOWEVER, in the shade, under the canopy, where there was very little light, there was still significant UVB radiation. More so than a reptisun puts out at 12". And about as muchas a MV bulb at 2-3 feet.



It seems that the UVB is reflected off of the foliage better than visible light, and dispite the lack of visible light, there was plenty of UVB.



I have a feeling that they can see better with UV light. I think it not only improves their coloration, but they stand out more to each other as well.



Some colors tend to reflect UV light better, and I think(Repeat THINK) that it aides in their identification of one another. Why?

Cause although they have good eyesight, I cannot believe their eyesight is as good as it appars to be WITHOUT them having a greater visible range than us.



I have seen chameleons reacting-VERY strongly and obviously-to another chameleon that is seemingly out of view. This even happened several times through translucent plastic, where I could NOT even see the outline of the chameleon from the plants. If they are able to see certain parts of the spectrum we can't , that could explain some of this.



It's like in insects, they can discriminate between certain flowers, flowers that appear--to us--identical. They do this by seeing UV light that we can not.



I think that possibility, coupled with the fact that lizards have that pineal eye sensative to UV, makes me wonder if there's something going on we are unaware of...

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