1. A method for configuring a chameleon avatar in response to data associated with a target avatar within a virtual universe, comprising: determining that an engagement of a chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, the chameleon avatar having an initial appearance configuration; determining whether the chameleon avatar should be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar; if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate for the indicated engagement: reading an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar; selecting a baseline avatar template as a function of the read attribute; and auto-morphing the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute; and the chameleon avatar engaging the target avatar in the initial appearance configuration if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is not appropriate, or in the auto-morphed baseline template if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate.