Will a chameleon change colour & blend in on a chess board?
No. Contrary to what we’ve all seen in cartoons, chameleons don’t actually change color or pattern to blend in with their surroundings. They have naturally evolved colors and patterns that blend in, the same way a leopard’s color and pattern allows him to blend in with his surroundings. But, chameleons DO change color and, to a lesser extent, pattern. Not in response to changing backgrounds, but in response to changing moods. In much the same way that people’s faces glow when they’re happy and flush with anger, a chameleon’s whole body tells the world how he’s feeling. When they’re intimidated or ill, they become dark. They also become darker when they’re cold, because dark colors absorb heat from the sun better. The males of some species become dazzling during mating season, to attract females and show that they’re in the mood. A chameleon that is trying to intimidate a rival will also put on a colorful, but different, display. But, the real champion of color change is the Octopus. So
