The purpose of this blog is to examine and explore the use of mimicry and deception in the animal world. Throughout the coming weeks we shall explore how these tactics are used theoughout the animal kindgdom from insects through to mammals encompassing both physiological and behavioral adaptations that have been adopted in order to gain an upper hand in survival whether through predator avoidance, resource gathering or increasing mating opportunities.

This week we shall briefly look at Batesian mimicry. Described by Wallace (1870) Batesian mimicry holds that palatable species look like dangerous species because both are then protected from predation.
A clear example of this is seen in the Viceroy Butterfly, which being palatable to an array of predators including birds, mimic's the warning colour scheme of the toxic Monarch Butterfly and as such lowers the risk of predation.





Wallace, AR 1870  Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection Macmillan, London.
'Batesian Mimicry', photograph, <http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/batesian-mimicry-examples-definition-quiz.html#lesson>