CAMOUFLAGE & MIMICRY

=Camouflage= Camouflage is concealment of an organisms '''smell''', '''sound''', or more commonly their '''appearance''' Organisms can conceal themselves in two different ways: ==Crypsis== [image:http://i.imgur.com/OXyRoZE.png?1] We usually recognise animals by their silhouette, eyes or their bulk (size / shape). Cryptic Colouration is what we traditionally think of as camouflage. It's a colouration or pattern that helps an organism to become less discernible from their surrounding environment. Essentially it helps them to blend in. For instance, counter shading in fish (dark on top, light underneath) helps make them less visible in water. In a similar way organisms can also use smell to "blend in". The larvae of the alcon blue butterfly produces a pheromone that makes them smell like ant larvae. The ants are so convinced, that they carry the larvae back to their nest, where they will feed and clean it until it matures. [image:http://i.imgur.com/WFr75Uy.png?1] [image:http://i.imgur.com/NRmDCCf.png?1] Organisms can also use motion to make them less discernible from their surroundings. This is sometimes called motion dazzle. The prey confuses the predator with a conspicuous pattern, making the object visible but momentarily harder to locate. For instance the colouration of zebras does not hide their bulk but makes individuals virtually indiscernible from the rest of the herd. This makes it more difficult for predators to isolate a single individual. This tactic makes it harder for the predators to estimate the prey's speed and direction accurately, giving the prey an improved chance of escape. This is why some fish of birds form dense clusters. Their close proximity and constant movement makes it harder for a predator to locate and chase down a single individual. ==Mimicry== [image:http://i.imgur.com/TOp55Nc.png?1] '''Batesian Mimicry''' This is when an organism that is actually harmless mimics another organism that is dangerous, poisonous or unpalatable (inedible). As a result, potential predators leave the organism alone. This frog is mimicking the eyes of another larger animal to scare away predators. [image:http://i.imgur.com/queZwSp.png?1] The butterfly on the left is actually harmless, but the one on the right is unpalatable (inedible) to birds. [image:http://i.imgur.com/y6XKU4S.png?1] The snake on the left is actually harmless, but the one on the right is deadly poisonous. '''Mullerian Mimicry''' This is when several poisonous species have the same warning colouration, working to the advantage of all these species. Yellow and black stripes are a warning colouration used by many poisonous species. [image:http://i.imgur.com/m3wKeMB.png]