9/3/2022 Mimicry and Camouflage in the Rainforest

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Rainforest Diversity

THE ARTS OF DECEPTION: MIMICRY AND

CAMOUFLAGE
July 31, 2012

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MIMICRY

There are three forms of mimicry utilized by both predator and prey: Batesian mimicry, Muellerian
mimicry, and self-mimicry. Mimicry refers to the similarities between animal species; camouflage refers to
an animal species resembling an inanimate object.

Batesian Mimicry
Batesian mimicry is named for Henry Walter Bates, a British scientist who studied mimicry in
Amazonian butterflies during the mid- and late nineteenth century. Batesian mimicry refers to two or
more species that are similar in appearance, but only one of which is armed with spines, stingers, or
toxic chemistry, while its apparent double lacks these traits. The second species has no defense other
than resembling the unpalatable species and is afforded protection from certain predators by its
resemblance to the unpalatable species, which the predator associates with a certain appearance and
a bad experience. Examples of Batesian mimicry are the several species of butterflies that mimic the
toxic Heliconid butterflies. Another fascinating butterfly mimic is the non-toxic Papilio memmon of
Indonesia. Each female butterfly (regardless of her coloration) can produce one or more different
female forms which mimic any of five other species of foul-tasting butterflies. Batesian mimicry is also
found in venomous coral snakes and the harmless milk and king snakes of the New World. Both
snakes are marked with alternating yellow, red, and black bands causing possible predators to avoid
both. The snakes can often be distinguished by using an old scout saying: "Red against yellow: kill a
fellow. Red against black: friend to Jack." The deadly coral snake has bands in the order of red, yellow,
black, while the innocuous species have the pattern of red, black, yellow (although the rule is not
failsafe and there are exceptions).

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Muellerian
☰ Mimicry
Muellerian mimicry is named for Fritz Mueller, a German zoologist who worked in the Amazon three
decades after Bates. This form of mimicry refers to two unpalatable species that are mimics of each
other with conspicuous warning coloration (also known as aposematic coloration). Thus all mimics
share the benefits of the coloration since the predator will recognize the coloration of an unpalatable
group after a few bad experiences. Since several species have the same appearance to the predator,
the loss of life will be spread out over several species, reducing the impact on each individual species.
Poison arrow frogs of South America and Mantella frogs of Madagascar are examples with their
conspicuous coloration of bright colors against black markings and toxic composition.

Self Mimicry
Self-mimicry is a misleading term for animals that have one body part that mimics another to increase
survival during an attack or helps predators appear innocuous. For example, countless moth, butterfly,
and freshwater fish species have "eye-spots": large dark markings that when flashed may momentarily
startle a predator and allow the prey extra seconds to escape.
"Eye-spots" also help prey escape predators by giving predators a false target. A butterfly has a better
chance of surviving an attack to the outer part of its wing than an attack to the head.
Less often predators utilize self-mimicry to aid in catching prey by appearing less threatening or
fooling the prey as to the origin of the attack. For example, several turtle species and the Frogmouth
Catfish (Chaca sp.) of Southeast Asia have tongue extensions that are used as a sort of lure to attract
prey to a position where they become an easy catch. One of the most interesting examples of self-
mimicry is the so-called "two-headed" snake of Central Africa which has a tail that resembles a head
and a head that resembles a tail. The snake even moves its tail in the way most snakes move their
heads. This adaptation functions to trick prey into believing the attack is originating from where it is
not.

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Leaf-tailed gecko in Madagascar. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

CAMOUFLAGE
A completely different approach for deception is camouflage, whereby animals seek to look inanimate
or inedible to avoid detection by predators and prey. There are many examples of rainforest species
which are cryptically colored to match their surroundings. For example, the Uroplatus geckos of
Madagascar are incredible masters of disguise and are practically unnoticeable to the passer-by. An
even more amazing group is the katydids, a group of grasshopper-like insects found worldwide.
Katydids are nocturnal insects which use their cryptic coloration to remain unnoticed during the day
when they are inactive. They remain perfectly still, often in a position that makes them blend in even
better. Katydids have evolved to the point where their body coloring and shape matches leaves?
including half-eaten leaves, dying leaves, and leaves with bird droppings?sticks, twigs, and tree bark.
Other well-known camouflage artists include beetles, mantids, caterpillars, moths, snakes, lizards, and
frogs.

Some species appear to have conspicuous coloration when they are not in the proper surroundings.
For example, among the brilliant butterflies of the forest, the magnificent electric blue Morpho, has
iridescent blue upper wings and a seven-inch wingspan. However, because the underwings are dark,
when the Morpho flies through the flickering light of the forest or even out in broad daylight, it seems
to disappear. Other forest species, especially mammals, have spots or stripes to help break up the
animal's outline. In the shade created by the canopy, large mammals like leopards, jaguars, ocelots,
and okapi are surprisingly difficult to see with their disruptive coloration.

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Leaf katydid in the Amazon. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

Review questions:
What are three types of mimicry?
Why is camouflage important?

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