Derek de Witt

An organism doesn't always mimic other species. Sometimes, it will mimic individuals of its own species as a way of fooling others and getting a surreptitious reproductive benefit.

Mimicry isn't just used in predator/prey relationships, but also for reproductive purposes. Some flowers can mimic female insects, attracting male insects to unknowingly pollinate them without having to supply nectar to them.

When it comes to mimicry, perspective is everything. An organism does not have to look exactly like its model in every way, only from the perspective of those it is trying to dupe. With soaring birds, this often includes only their undersides.

Cleaner fish are an important part of shallow ocean ecosystems, interacting in a symbiotic manner with larger species. However, several species have learn to mimic both their coloration and behavior in order to get a free meal without providing cleaning services.

While previous examples of mimicry have shown different methods for keeping others away, we now look at a mimic that wants to draw others to it instead. This organism is a predator and it can mimic its prey to bring them in close.

Human agricultural actions have been another driver of mimicry in cultivated fields. Specifically, unwanted weed species mimic the cultivated species making it harder for humans to tell the difference and remove them.

Mimicry isn't always one size fits all and new data can change our understanding of each relationship. Sometimes, two species can both have defenses and end up mimicking each other.

Adaptability is strongly favored in an evolutionary sense. Imagine if a mimic could copy multiple model organisms. It could adapt its mimicry for multiple situations. Not many organisms could pull this off, but cephalopods have the color- and shape-changing abilities to do so.

Woodpeckers don't have venom like snakes or bees. They seem fairly harmless. Yet there is a species of South American woodpecker that exhibits defensive mimicry. What kind of deterrence is it copying?

Fear and pain van be useful tools for mimics. If the species they appear similar to can deliver a nasty sting, then there is a greater incentive for predator species to leave both the original and the mimic alone.