Does it take more intelligence to outwit prey or predator?
I was looking at a chameleon the other day and I got to wondering if the animal needs more intelligence to avoid a predator or to capture prey. Simply blending in with the background seems to be something instinctual to avoid a predator when at rest for instance, but when stalking prey can it consciously control its color scheme?
Maybe a chameleon is a bad example of what I'm trying to say. Some animals are born with natural camouflage, something nature has evolved for them, and it seems like little intelligence is involved there. Now a predator seems more inclined to use their cunning, having to surprise an otherwise alert prey.
Does hunting promote the evolving of intelligence or does avoiding a predator perform the same function?
I was looking at a chameleon the other day and I got to wondering if the animal needs more intelligence to avoid a predator or to capture prey. Simply blending in with the background seems to be something instinctual to avoid a predator when at rest for instance, but when stalking prey can it consciously control its color scheme?
Maybe a chameleon is a bad example of what I'm trying to say. Some animals are born with natural camouflage, something nature has evolved for them, and it seems like little intelligence is involved there. Now a predator seems more inclined to use their cunning, having to surprise an otherwise alert prey.
Does hunting promote the evolving of intelligence or does avoiding a predator perform the same function?