Mimicry

In biology, mimicry is when a species evolves features similar to another. Either one or both are protected when a third species cannot tell them apart.^[1][2] Often, these features are visual; one species looks like another; but similarities of sound, smell and behaviour may also make the fraud seem more real.

Mimicry is related to camouflage, and to warning signals, in which species manipulate or deceive other species which might do them harm. Although mimicry is mainly a defence against predators,^[3] sometimes predators also use mimicry, and fool their prey into feeling safe.

Mimicry happens in both animal and plant species. The mimic is the species which looks like the model. The model may be living, or not. Whole groups of animals go in for mimicry as a life style, such as mantids, leaf insects or stick insects.^[4] Camouflage, in which a species looks similar to its surroundings, is a form of visual mimicry.

There are far more insect mimics than any other class of animal,^[4] but then there are far more insects than other types of animals. Indeed, 75% of all animals which have been described and named, are insects.^[5] Many other kinds of animal mimics are known, including fish, plants and even fungi, though less research has been done on these.^[6][7][8]

Mimicry evolves because the species that are better at mimicking survive to produce more offspring than the species that are worse at mimicking. The genes of the better mimics become more common in the species. Over time, mimic species get closer to their models. This is the process of evolution by natural selection.

1. ↑ "Mimicry: the similarity in appearance of one species to another that affords one or both protection". King R.C. Stansfield W.D. & Mulligan P.K. 2006. A dictionary of genetics, 7th ed. Oxford. p278
2. ↑ "Similarity between organisms that confers a survival advantage on one". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13th ed.
3. ↑ Edmonds M. 1974. Defence in animals: a survey of anti-predator defences. Longmans, London.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Wickler W. 1968. Mimicry in plants and animals. McGraw-Hill, New York.
5. ↑ "Why most animals are insects".
6. ↑ Boyden T.C. 1980. Floral mimicry by Epidendrum ibaguense (Orchidaceae) in Panama. Evolution 34:135-136.
7. ↑ Roy B.A. 1994. The effects of pathogen-induced pseudoflowers and buttercups on each other's insect visitation. Ecology 75:352-358.
8. ↑ Wickler, Wolfgang 1998. “Mimicry”. Encyclopædia Britannica, 15th edition. Macropædia 24, 144–151. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-11910