1. Mimicry refers to the similarities between species
Mimicry refers to the similarities between species. Mimicry is a form of symbiosis where a species may mimic the colors, patterns, or even behavior of another species for one of two reasons.

2. Introduction
1. either to be able to get closer to unsuspecting prey or …
2. in the case of a harmless species to gain protection by imitating a predator or poisonous species.

3. Introduction
Comparing mimicry with camouflage or deceptive behavior, protection by mimicry is the most cost effective. The mimicking species does not have to change its behavior or stay against a safe background to disguise itself.

4. Introduction It can go about its daily life without extra protections.
There are several described forms of mimicry utilized by both predator and prey:

5. Various kinds of mimicry
Batesian mimicry: resemblance of harmless species to some non-edible species that signals their unsuitability to possible predators
Müllerian mimicry: resemblance of aposematic signals of different non-edible species
Peckhamian mimicry: resemblance of predators’ messages to messages of some species, or to some objects, that are harmless to their prey
Wasmannian mimicry: occurs when the mimic resembles it's host in order to live within the same nest or structure

6. Harmless hoverflies resemble non-edible wasps
Batesian mimicry
Harmless hoverflies resemble non-edible wasps

7. Batesian mimicry

8. The toxic sea slug Phillidiella pustulosa (left)
More Batesian mimicry
The toxic sea slug Phillidiella pustulosa (left)
is mimicked by a harmless flatworm Pseudoceros imitatus

9. More Batesian mimicry The harmless Allobates zaparo (top)
mimics the poiseness
Epipedobates biliguis (middle)
and the even more toxic species
E. parvalus whenever these species
share their habitats

10. More Batesian mimicry
The venomous coral snake Micrurus fulvius and its non-venomous mimic the king snake Lampropeltis triangulum

11. More Batesian mimicry
The viceroy butterfly Limenitis archippus (left) has evolved to mimic and look like the foul-tasting and poisonous monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus

12. More Batesian mimicry
The filefish Canthigaster valentini (left) mimics the unpalatable puffer Paraluterus prionurus

13. More Batesian mimicry
The Harlequin Snake eel (Myrichthys colubrinus) mimics the Banded sea snake (Laticauda colubrina) an extremely toxic species with conspicuous black and white warning colouration

14. More Batesian mimicry
The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) has the ability to mimic other aquatic creatures in order to avoid predation

15. Müllerian mimicry
Many stinging wasps, like (from left to right) Vespula vulgaris, Vespula germanica and Vespula rufa share the same or similar black and yellow aposematic colour pattern.

16. Müllerian mimicry Subspecies of Heliconius erato
(left-hand column) and of
H. melpomene on the right.
Both species are toxic and form
a local mimicry ring from a different
area of Ecuador or northern Peru

17. Müllerian mimicry
The unpalatable soldier beetles (Cantharidae) mimic the distateful lycid beetles (Lycidae) and, when flying, the wasp

18. More Müllerian mimicry
Unpalatable caterpillors of St. Jacobbutterfly mimic stinging wasps and venomous coral snakes

19. The use of black and yellow as a warning sign (RESEMBLING POISENESS SPECIES)

20. Peckhamian mimicry
This anglar fish (Antenarius sp.) displays a lure resembling a small fish

21. In its mouth, the Alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii)
Peckhamian mimicry
In its mouth, the Alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii)
possesses a wormlike projection that is moved to attract prey into the turtle’s mouth

22. More Peckhamian mimicry
The orchard spiders (Celaenia sp.) mimic bird droppings to look unappatising and attract moths by scent

23. More Peckhamian mimicry
The bolas spider Mastophora hutchinsoni emits chemical attractants that mimic the sex pheromones of its moth prey

24. More Peckhamian mimicry
Some spiders like the Synemosyninae and the genus Myrmarachne mimic ants that they hunt

25. More Peckhamian mimicry
Lightning bugs (Lampiridae) have specific flash sequences to find eachother. Females of the genus Photurus can imitate the flash sequence of Photunis females in order to attract male wich they will devour .

26. Peckhamian mimicry in carnivorous plants
The fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera) and the Venus Flytrap, (Dionaea muscipula) attract insects that they digest

27. Aposematic colouration: (maybe) I’m poiseness
Sea slugs of the genus The distasteful grasshopper
Chromodoris Acripeza reticulata

28. More aposematic colours: (maybe) I’m poiseness
Warning colours in amphibians and insects

29. Signs of warning: (maybe) I’m dangerous
Beetles like the Staphylinidae (right) and Phosphaenus hemipterus (left) mimic scorpions that may scare predators.

30. Signs of warning: (maybe) I’m dangerous
Some planthoppers (Homoptera) mimic jumping spiders probably to avoid some predators, such as ants and even the jumping spiders

31. More signs of warning: (maybe) I’m dangerous
Madoryx oiclus
Polyphemus Moths
Pleurodema thaul
Papilio troilus
Chaetodon captistratus
The false eye-spots in some species may frighten off or throw into disorder their predators

32. Reichenbachia spatulifer
Wasmannian mimicry
Reichenbachia spatulifer
Araeoschizus sp.
Some beetles mimic ants in order to be provided with food, shelter and protection

33. The moth Datana sp. (Notodontidae) mimics the rain forest floor
Camouflage
The moth Datana sp. (Notodontidae) mimics the rain forest floor

34. Camouflage
The frog Paradoxophyla palmata mimics the mud and tree trunks in its environment.

35. The insect Phyllium giganteum mimics a leaf to disguise itself
Camouflage
The insect Phyllium giganteum mimics a leaf to disguise itself

36. Camouflage
The praying mantis Hymenopus coronatus uses its elegantly-lobed hind legs and pink and white coloration to camouflage itself amongst the native orchid flowers

37. Camouflage
The pygmy seahorse Hippocampus bargibanti mimics gorgonian corals of the genus Muricella

38. Camouflage
The starry flounder Platichthys stellatus makes use of melanophores and chromophores to adapt to the sea floor

39. Camouflage
The great bittern Botaurus stellaris is pretty well camouflaged in its natural habitat

40. Camouflage
The zebra Equus burchelli and the leopard Panthera Pardus may look conspicuous to us but are quite difficult to spot at dusk, especially when beïng “colour-blind”

41. Egg-spots
Among cichlids the males of maternal mouthbrooders wear “egg-dummies” on their anal fin that are crucial to mating