Detectability of a poison frog and its Batesian mimic depends on body posture and viewing angle.

ABSTRACT: Aposematic signals warn predators that prey should be avoided due to dangerous secondary defences. However, as warning signals do not always produce avoidance, warning colors may evolve as a trade-off balancing detectability against signal saliency. For Batesian mimics, which display salient signals but lack secondary defenses, the costs of predator encounters are greater, potentially increasing the benefit of crypsis. This raises the question of whether imperfect mimicry may reduce detectability while retaining mimetic efficacy. We tested this hypothesis with the poisonous frog Ameerega bilinguis and undefended Batesian mimic Allobates zaparo, using computational visual modeling and screen-based detection trials with human participants. We found that both species incorporate

SUBMITTER: McEwen BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11520748 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature