Appearances are everything

Mullerian mimicry

different toxic species display similar color patterns to reinforce warning message

Batesian mimicry

non-toxic species displays same color patterns as toxic species to gain benefit of warning message

factor of Batesian mimicry

mimic doesn’t have to make toxin; can be energetically costly

ex of B.S mimicry

non-toxic flatworms that look like toxic nudibranch species

Aposematic coloration

warning coloration of bright colors/ patterns displayed by poisonous or toxic species

animals w apesematic coloration

lionfish w stripes, blue-ringed octopus (TOXIC)

how do nudibranchs (brightly colored) achieve their toxins?

from eating sponges

Cryptic

body color, texture and shape that blends into environment to either hide from predation or hide as a predator to ambush prey

ex) cryptic coloration

predatory scorpionfish looks like a sponge and rocks around coral reefs

transparency

“disappearing” in open water column; common in larval stages, cnidarians, shrimp, squid, octopi, tunicates or icefish species

open water fish

have silvery sides which blend into open water environment

can serve as distraction/ startle mechanism when swimming in large schools to avoid predation (not colorful)

Many unrelated species demonstrate convergent evolution of whta??

countershading

What is countershading?

dark ventral surface, lighter bellies

camouflage looking up nd down in water column

UV protection of darker backs

Aggressive mimicry

“false advertising” for predation

ex of aggressive mimicry

anglerfish dangle small knob of flesh (some bioluminescent bacteria inside) just above their mouth, mimicking the prey item of other fish that are attracted to the “lure” but are then eaten by the angler fish

Disruptive coloration

strong visual discordant patterns of strips n whirls which breaks up the silhouette of fish; often runs thru eyes to make them less obvious

False eyespots

many fish, mollusks and crustaceans have dark round coloration in non-vital body parts that look like eyes but are away from actual eyes (draws away pred. attention)

confuses predator as to what direction prey heading

Ink

cephalopods can use ink produced in internal ink sac to hide from predators or confuse them

what animlas use dynamic camouflage to adjust to current environment/ mimic other species?

ex) lionfish…

Mimic octopus, flounder

How does dynamic camouflage occur?

skin contains chromatophores w cytoelastic sacculus, pigment filled sacs that are under neural nd muscular control thus changing color as needed for particular mimic or environment