I have noted dramatically change in color on the body of some marine fishes. For example, I saw a dramatically change from a "intense-yellow" color to "brown" color (normal color), just in one second. Is not a gradual change of color, is very quickly, similar like an octopuses. How could be explained this color change?
Body coloration in many poikilothermic animals is plastic and can be adjusted at the individual level. Particularly in fish, this rapid change is called physiological color change and refers to synchronous movement of pigment organelles within pigmented cells in the skin called chromatophores (black melanophores containing melanin, yellow xantophores containing pteridine, red erythrophores containing carotenoids, and the more rare blue cyanophores containing an unknown cyan biochrome), as well as in changes in angles of light reflecting crystals in iridophores and leucophores . When aggregating the dark melanosomes of the melanophores, the skin not only becomes pale but also more transparent. Increased body transparency can also aid background matching.
The advantage of rapid color change is obvious, because it allows rapid adjustments and flexibility at the individual level depending of the situation. It is used for background matching as well as for communication and sexual display . Studies on pipefish have shown that the color ornaments of the females are shut off if a predator enters the mating area, clearly indicating the advantage of an adjustable body appearance and the risk of a colorful display .
Body coloration in many poikilothermic animals is plastic and can be adjusted at the individual level. Particularly in fish, this rapid change is called physiological color change and refers to synchronous movement of pigment organelles within pigmented cells in the skin called chromatophores (black melanophores containing melanin, yellow xantophores containing pteridine, red erythrophores containing carotenoids, and the more rare blue cyanophores containing an unknown cyan biochrome), as well as in changes in angles of light reflecting crystals in iridophores and leucophores . When aggregating the dark melanosomes of the melanophores, the skin not only becomes pale but also more transparent. Increased body transparency can also aid background matching.
The advantage of rapid color change is obvious, because it allows rapid adjustments and flexibility at the individual level depending of the situation. It is used for background matching as well as for communication and sexual display . Studies on pipefish have shown that the color ornaments of the females are shut off if a predator enters the mating area, clearly indicating the advantage of an adjustable body appearance and the risk of a colorful display .
They are probably caused by colorant molecules capable of alternate cis trans atomic structures, only one of which is coloured
Apart from the pigments a fish can employ it is also interesting how it produces different patterns. I remember a talk by Christ Tyler on that subject that I heard many years ago. For flounders he and his coworkers found that these animal are mixing three basic patterns to generate the appearance of a variety of sea grounds.
For details see Article Rapid adaptive camouflage in tropical flounders
It seem the question already been basically answered, so I can only confirm it's done with chromatophore skin cells, while it can be seen among some species living in coral reefs and were I guess the OP have spotted it, the best local example is flounders - who sometimes can be seen change colour to match the bottom as they swim. So the change can be fast indeed.
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