Open AccessCognitive Dimensions of Predator Responses to Imperfect Mimicry
Author(s) -
Lars Chittka,
Daniel Osorio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
plos biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.127
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1545-7885
pISSN - 1544-9173
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050339
Subject(s) - predation , mimicry , biology , predator , aposematism , animal cognition , cognition , ecology , imperfect , object (grammar) , cognitive psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , neuroscience , psychology , linguistics , philosophy
How palatable animals manage to enjoy increased protection from predators by imperfectly mimicking well-defended animals, like wasps, even though their resemblance appears slight to the human eye has long puzzled evolutionary biologists. Could predator cognition explain the mimics' success?