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Batesian mimicry is when a harmless species or a species that is prey to predators (some textbooks might use the word 'palatable', which means savoury or tasty) copies a harmful species or a species that is not prey to other predators (unpalatable, which means unsavoury, not tasty).

On the other hand, a Mullerian mimicry is when TWO (or more) harmful or unpalatable species mimic each other.

These animals usually mimic each other's appearances but mimicry can also extend to behaviour.

For example, say we have two frogs. One is poisonous and uses aposematic (warning) coloration by being bright blue. One is harmless and bright blue. This is a case of Batesian mimicry.

But if both frogs are poisonous and bright blue, this is Mullerian mimicry.

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What is mimircry?

Mimicry is a form of adaptation in which one organism evolves to resemble another organism in order to gain a survival advantage. This can involve imitating the appearance, behavior, or sounds of another species to avoid predators or gain access to resources. Mimicry can be either Batesian (the mimic is harmless) or Mullerian (both the mimic and model are harmful).


The term used to describe a harmless organism resembling a harmful one is?

Batesian mimicry. This is when a harmless species evolves to look like a harmful species in order to benefit from the protection of the harmful species' warning signals without actually possessing any harmful attributes itself.


What is the difference between camouflage and mimicry?

Camouflage involves blending in with the environment to avoid detection by predators or prey. Mimicry is when an organism imitates another organism's appearance, behavior, or sound to deceive predators or prey. Mimicry can involve mimicking a harmful species (Batesian mimicry) or mimicking a harmful species in an area where the mimicker is dominant (Müllerian mimicry).


What does mimic in science mean?

In science, mimicry refers to a phenomenon where one species evolves to resemble another in order to gain a selective advantage, such as protection from predators or enhanced access to resources. This can occur through either Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species evolves to imitate a harmful one, or Müllerian mimicry, where multiple harmful species converge in appearance to reinforce warning signals. Mimicry is an example of convergent evolution driven by natural selection.


How does a Viceroy Butterfly mimics a Monarch Butterfly?

Butterflies are harmless. No American Lepidoptera is known to be poisonous to man. I am familiar with the Monarch, Red Admiral and other types. they are harmless and beautiful insects not pesky (Bugs). The Monarch butterfly is poisonous to some animals. The poisons in their bodies is very distasteful to many predators. The viceroy and monarch were once thought to exhibit Batesian mimicry where a harmless species mimics a toxic species. Studies conducted in the early 1990's suggest that the viceroy and the monarch are actually examples of Mullerian mimicry where two equally toxic species mimic each other to the benefit of each. Just goes to show you there's always something new to discover in the natural world!

Related Questions

When an organism makes itself look like something else in order to survive?

This is known as mimicry, a form of adaptation that allows an organism to resemble another organism or object for protection from predators or to enhance hunting success. Mimicry can be either Batesian, where a harmless organism mimics a harmful one, or Mullerian, where two harmful species evolve to look alike.


What are not examples of mimicry?

Mimicry is the similarity of one species to another that can protect one or both of them from predators. Some examples of mimicry are bugs that camouflage themselves to look like leaves or bugs that look like sticks.


What are 3 types of mimicry?

Batesian mimicry is when a non-dangerous animal adapts to appear similar to a a dangerous one to dissuade predators from eating them. Mullerian mimicry is when two dangerous species adapt to appear similar to each other so that the predators would only need to remember to not eat animals with a single characteristic. Brotherian mimicry is when you are with your friends and your brother decides to try to imitate you so he can be an annoying brat.


What is mimircry?

Mimicry is a form of adaptation in which one organism evolves to resemble another organism in order to gain a survival advantage. This can involve imitating the appearance, behavior, or sounds of another species to avoid predators or gain access to resources. Mimicry can be either Batesian (the mimic is harmless) or Mullerian (both the mimic and model are harmful).


Difference between aggressive and protective mimicry?

difference between aggressive mimicry and protective mimicry


Adaptation where an organism resembles another by sound or looks?

Batesian mimicry


What is batesain mimicry?

There are two main types of mimicry, which is the adaption by one life form of some of the superficial characteristics of another. The first is called Batesian mimicry, and in this case the mimic is sort of "free riding" on the reputation of the creature mimiced. The other is Mullerian mimicry and here both creatures contribute to the reputation. Consider two butterflies, the Monarch and the Viceroy. The viceroy's coloration mimics the monarch's. The monarch eats milkweed and the latex in its body is toxic to birds, so they learn not to eat monarchs, and sometimes they pass up viceroys as well. Now, the viceroy doesn't eat milkweed, so presumably it is a Batesian mimic, just coasting on the monarch's reputation as a toxic butterfly -- BUT -- some naturalists think they the viceroy, though it doesn't eat milkweed specifically, also has a toxic diet and is therefore a Mullerian mimic. One clear case of Batesian mimicry is the scarlet snake, which is nonvenomous but looks similar to the coral snake, which is.


What is a structural adaptation that enables one species to resemble another species' may provide protection from predators or other advantages?

Mimicry is a structural adaptation where one species has evolved to resemble another species, providing protection from predators or other advantages. This can include Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful species, or Mullerian mimicry, where two harmful species resemble each other to reinforce a warning signal to predators.


The term used to describe a harmless organism resembling a harmful one is?

Batesian mimicry. This is when a harmless species evolves to look like a harmful species in order to benefit from the protection of the harmful species' warning signals without actually possessing any harmful attributes itself.


What is the difference between camouflage and mimicry?

Camouflage involves blending in with the environment to avoid detection by predators or prey. Mimicry is when an organism imitates another organism's appearance, behavior, or sound to deceive predators or prey. Mimicry can involve mimicking a harmful species (Batesian mimicry) or mimicking a harmful species in an area where the mimicker is dominant (Müllerian mimicry).


Why do plants and animals use mimicry or camouflage?

Mimicry describes an animal who is behaving like another type of animal to throw off its predators. Camouflage describes an animal's ability to make itself look like something else to blend in with its surroundings.


What is the relationship between the viceroy and monarch butterfly?

The relationship is called Batesian comimicry. Both butterflies are distasteful,so they mimic each others' patterns for mutual protection. A common misconception is that only the monarch is poisonous and the viceroy mimics it to gain protection even though it is non-poisonous. This is not true though, as studies in the 1980s proved that the viceroy is poisonous as well.