Batesian mimicry is a biological phenomenon that occurs when one species mimics the appearance of another species to protect itself from predators. The term is named after the British naturalist, Henry Walter Bates, who first observed this phenomenon in the Amazon rainforest in the 19th century. Batesian mimicry is an important concept in evolutionary biology, and it has been studied extensively by scientists over the years.
Definitions
Batesian mimicry is defined as a form of mimicry in which a harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful or poisonous species to avoid predation. In other words, a non-toxic species imitates the warning signals of a toxic species to deceive predators into thinking that it is also toxic.
Origin
The concept of Batesian mimicry was first observed by Henry Walter Bates in the Amazon rainforest in the 19th century. Bates noticed that some non-toxic butterflies had evolved to mimic the warning signals of toxic butterflies, which allowed them to avoid being eaten by predators. Batesian mimicry is now recognized as a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom, and it has been observed in a variety of different species, including insects, reptiles, and birds.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Batesian mimicry is defined as “the mimicry by a harmless species of the warning coloration of a harmful or dangerous species, the mimic being thereby protected from attack by predators.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “mimicry in which a harmless species resembles an unpalatable or harmful species in order to avoid predation by animals that have learned to avoid the harmful species.”
Associations
Batesian mimicry is often associated with the concept of warning coloration, which refers to the bright or distinctive coloration of toxic or harmful species that serves as a warning to potential predators. It is also associated with the idea of coevolution, which is the process by which two or more species evolve in response to each other.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of Batesian mimicry include:
- Protective mimicry.
- Deceptive mimicry.
- False warning coloration.
- Non-toxic mimicry.
Antonyms
Antonyms of Batesian mimicry include:
- Mullerian mimicry (in which two or more toxic or harmful species evolve to resemble each other).
- Crypsis (in which a species blends in with its environment to avoid detection by predators).
The same root words
The term Batesian mimicry is named after the British naturalist, Henry Walter Bates, who first observed the phenomenon in the Amazon rainforest. The word “mimicry” comes from the Latin word “mimicus,” which means “imitating.”
Example Sentences
- The non-toxic butterfly evolved to mimic the warning coloration of the toxic butterfly through Batesian mimicry.
- The harmless snake mimics the appearance of the venomous snake to avoid being eaten by predators.
- The non-poisonous frog has evolved to look like the poisonous frog through Batesian mimicry.
Batesian mimicry is an important concept in evolutionary biology that refers to the phenomenon in which a harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful or poisonous species to avoid predation. The term is named after the British naturalist, Henry Walter Bates, who first observed this phenomenon in the Amazon rainforest in the 19th century. Batesian mimicry is now recognized as a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom, and it has been studied extensively by scientists over the years.