Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Automimicry



Spicebush Caterpillar 5th instar - Papilio troilus   Io Moth - Automeris io - male   


A type of mimicry where one part of an animal resembles different features or even a different animal , which helps deter predators.


  • Some species of caterpillar, have eyespots on their anterior abdominal segments. When alarmed, they retract the head and the thoracic segments into the body, leaving the apparently threatening large eyes at the front of the visible part of the body.  
  • Some species of fishes have eyespots near their tails, and when mildly alarmed swim slowly backwards, presenting the tail as a head. Some insects too, have tail patterns and appendages of various degrees of sophistication that promote attacks at the rear rather than at the head.

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