Predators and prey

masquerade

blend into surroundings

element imitator

masquerade as something part of the environment, e.g. a stick

object imitator

masquerade as something in addition to environment, e.g. droppings

mimicry

look like another animal

batesian mimicry

harmless spp. mimics harmful spp.

mullerian mimicry

2 harmful spp. mimic each other

aposematic coloration

colored brightly to ward off predators

acoustic aposematism

use noises to warn predators of distastefulness

masquerade effect

predator takes longer to attack prey when it doesn’t know what the prey is mimicking

john skelhorn (2010)

experimented with masquerading with chicks and caterpillars

true/false: coloring is more cryptic when an animal is solitary

true

true/false: coloring is more conspicuous when prey lives in groups

true

primary defense mechanism

avoiding detection via masquerade

secondary defense mechanism

escaping or tasting bad

crypsis

ability to avoid detection by predators

motion dazzle

patterns that interfere with perception of prey’s speed/direction

aperture problem

motion dazzle may result from integration of antagonistic local signals

local brightening

motion moving away from animal

local darkening

motion moving towards animal

looming motion

motion towards/away from animal

descending contralateral movement detectors

bilateral pair of neurons that respond to looming motion and help trigger escape