What is the purpose of mimicry?

Answer 1

It protects one or both species. It's a variety of camouflage.

It has the advantage that the species that mimics other poisonous or bad-tasting does not need to waste energy at developing and maintaining a venomous defence. It all comes down to maximal fitness in the end.

If one unharmful species can survive and reproduce by mimicing another one's colours without wasting the energy otherwise needed to maintain a venom etc, then that's a double win for the species.

Usually it's often bright coulors that stands in contrast of one another, like black/yellow, red/black etc.

Answer 2

There are a great number of animals throughout the world which can be said to utilize mimicry in order to either evade predators or ensnare prey of their own. Many of these animals are insects, such as the "walking stick" (Diapheromera fermorata, for one), or the katydid (family Tettigoniidae), both of which resemble their sylvan surroundings so closely that they blend in, and are more difficult for birds or other potential predators to see.

Other animals, like the praying mantis, are able to blend in with their environment, even undulating like a leaf blowing in a breeze, in order to ambush unsuspecting prey.

The mantis' camouflage is also effective at fooling animals that might want to eat it.

Another example of so-called "aggressive mimicry" in the animal world is the angler fish, which has a body that is colored to blend in with its maritime environment, and a long appendage projecting from its forehead which mimics the appearance of seaweed or a small fish. Certain smaller fish, seeing the angler's "bait" appendage and being fooled by it, approach it to have a nibble, and the angler fish devours them.

Mimicry is a beautiful example of natural selection in action, and can enhance the prospects of survival for animals and people alike. I heard a news story a few weeks ago about a man who was a dead-ringer for Tiger Woods, and he was paid many thousands of dollars to impersonate Tiger at corporate events and in advertisements.

Also, he had a Golf-club-like appendage dangling from his arm which would lure in plump n' tasty Tiger Woods fans, and when they got close enough, Faux-Tiger would devour them whole.

Alright, that last sentence may not be true.