![]() It adopts the external features of the monarch butterfly, which is toxic and therefore avoided by predators. The viceroy butterfly exhibits visual mimicry as a defensive mechanism. The mimic octopus employs mimicry to deter predators. The octopus imitates jellyfish by swimming to the surface and slowly sinking while spreading its arms evenly around the body. It mimics the sole venomous fish by flattening its body and using jet propulsion to swim at high speeds, raising its arms above the head, with each arm bent in a zigzag shape to resemble the fish-eating sea anemone. ![]() The mimic octopus imitates a wide range of animals, including lionfish, crabs, venomous sole, jellyfish, sea snakes, mantis shrimp, and sea anemones. Over time, the ant colonies change their larva chemicals to deter intruders, leading to an evolutionary "arms race" between the species. Once the adult hatches, the ants recognize the presence of an intruder, but the butterfly is protected by loosely attached scales that enable it to escape. ![]() The larvae release a chemical that smells like ant larvae to trick ants into thinking it as their kind, and are consequently carried into the brood to feed among the ant larvae. The Alcon blue butterfly lays eggs on the marsh gentian, but the larvae leave the plant and migrate to the ground to attract ants. Examples of animals that exhibit mimicry are highlighted below. Mimicry can be visual, chemical, acoustic, or tactile. Often, animals develop mimicry to protect from predators or gain some form of advantage. Mimicry is an evolved resemblance in appearance or behavior between one organism and another, usually of a different species.
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