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What is protective resemblance?

Updated: 10/19/2022
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14y ago

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Protective resemblance is believed by biologists to be a product of natural selection and may range from organisms having evolved the appropriate coloration and behavior to obtain protection from predation, all the way to promoting active avoidance by predators. Examples would thus include organisms using crypsis (
However, coloration is only a part of the suite of adaptations and to be effective, coloration and form (i.e. leaf or stick shape) must be accompanied by the appropriate behavior. For example, Breder was a fisheries scientist who collected stories of protective resemblance and wrote of the tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) which as juveniles, rear in areas where mangrove trees are abundant. Not only do the juveniles have a similar shape and coloration to the mangrove leaves complete with spots similar to the leaves of the trees, but they float with one side up on the water's surface. If startled, they sink and drift to the bottom in a manner resembling a leaf moving from side to side. Upon reaching the bottom, they lie motionless for a time and then return to the surface.

Back to mimicry, Batesian Mimicry describes the protective function of an harmless species resembling one that is toxic with viceroy and Monarch Butterflies respectively the best known examples of mimics and models. Monarch butterfly eggs are deposited on milkweed plants and caterpillars feed on the leaves which contain a cardiac glycoside. For vertebrate predators capable of learning, a single meal of a monarch butterfly is sufficient to cause heart palpatations and retching. Lincoln Brower reported that a bluejay presented with a monarch butterfly two years after its initial exposure, retched and would not even approach the possible prey. For palatable viceroys to obtain protection from their resemblance to Monarch Butterflies, they must have a similar geographic distribution.

Some bird species such as cuckoos and cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and have the host species perform the majority of parental care following their own selection of a suitable nest to deposit a single egg into. The brood parasitic species itself has reared with the host and therefore knows what species to parasitize, their eggs have similar coloration to the host species and the parasite may even push its nestmates out of the nest to obtain the majority of parental care.

Of the three examples given, all are examples of protective resemblance but the first is an example of crypsis, anglerfishes and stonefishes are examples of aggressive mimicry to facilitate predation, and cuckoos and cowbirds use the resemblance of their eggs in size and coloration to permit brood parasitism. Aposematism is closely related and is defined as possessing coloration which is highly visible and provides a warning to predators to avoid the possible prey. Arrow poison frogs are brightly colored and possess behaviors which facilitate predators sampling them and learning avoidance. Because many vertebrate species have extended parental care, parents may teach their offspring to both avoid prey that are noxious and recognize prey that are camouflaged.

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14y ago

Protective resemblance is believed by biologists to be a product of natural selection and may range from organisms having evolved the appropriate coloration and behavior to obtain protection from predation, all the way to promoting active avoidance by predators. Examples would thus include organisms using crypsis (
However, coloration is only a part of the suite of adaptations and to be effective, coloration and form (i.e. leaf or stick shape) must be accompanied by the appropriate behavior. For example, Breder was a fisheries scientist who collected stories of protective resemblance and wrote of the tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) which as juveniles, rear in areas where mangrove trees are abundant. Not only do the juveniles have a similar shape and coloration to the mangrove leaves complete with spots similar to the leaves of the trees, but they float with one side up on the water's surface. If startled, they sink and drift to the bottom in a manner resembling a leaf moving from side to side. Upon reaching the bottom, they lie motionless for a time and then return to the surface.

Back to mimicry, Batesian Mimicry describes the protective function of an harmless species resembling one that is toxic with viceroy and monarch butterflies respectively the best known examples of mimics and models. Monarch butterfly eggs are deposited on milkweed plants and caterpillars feed on the leaves which contain a cardiac glycoside. For vertebrate predators capable of learning, a single meal of a monarch butterfly is sufficient to cause heart palpatations and retching. Lincoln Brower reported that a bluejay presented with a monarch butterfly two years after its initial exposure, retched and would not even approach the possible prey. For palatable viceroys to obtain protection from their resemblance to monarch butterflies, they must have a similar geographic distribution.

Some bird species such as cuckoos and cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and have the host species perform the majority of parental care following their own selection of a suitable nest to deposit a single egg into. The brood parasitic species itself has reared with the host and therefore knows what species to parasitize, their eggs have similar coloration to the host species and the parasite may even push its nestmates out of the nest to obtain the majority of parental care.

Of the three examples given, all are examples of protective resemblance but the first is an example of crypsis, anglerfishes and stonefishes are examples of aggressive mimicry to facilitate predation, and cuckoos and cowbirds use the resemblance of their eggs in size and coloration to permit brood parasitism. Aposematism is closely related and is defined as possessing coloration which is highly visible and provides a warning to predators to avoid the possible prey. Arrow poison frogs are brightly colored and possess behaviors which facilitate predators sampling them and learning avoidance. Because many vertebrate species have extended parental care, parents may teach their offspring to both avoid prey that are noxious and recognize prey that are camouflaged.

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What are the kinds of resemblance?

what is protective coloration


What do you mean by protective resemblance?

When you look like certain objects around you. Like a marshmallow in snow.


What is an anaclisis?

An anaclisis is the choice of an object of libidinal attachment on the basis of a resemblance to early childhood protective and parental figures.


What is anaclisis?

An anaclisis is the choice of an object of libidinal attachment on the basis of a resemblance to early childhood protective and parental figures.


What animal uses protective resemblance to protect itself from predators?

A leaf tailed gecko would be an example of one such animal as would the mimic octopus.


Certain insects resemble the bark of the trees on which they live Which statement provides a possible biological explanation for this resemblance?

Natural selection played a role in the development of this protective coloration


Bare resemblance or bear resemblance?

to bear RESEMBLANCE to


Meaning of mimicry?

The act or practice of one who mimics; ludicrous imitation for sport or ridicule., Protective resemblance; the resemblance which certain animals and plants exhibit to other animals and plants or to the natural objects among which they live, -- a characteristic which serves as their chief means of protection against enemies; imitation; mimesis; mimetism.


Short meaning of mimicry?

The act or practice of one who mimics; ludicrous imitation for sport or ridicule., Protective resemblance; the resemblance which certain animals and plants exhibit to other animals and plants or to the natural objects among which they live, -- a characteristic which serves as their chief means of protection against enemies; imitation; mimesis; mimetism.


What are animals that use protective resemblance?

The invisible bird looks like a reed, the lion stripes blend with shadow of the grass and the praying mantis looks like a torn leaf when it stands still.


What characteristic is common to all minerals?

Resemblance resemblance to music


What is a sentence with resemblance?

Example sentence - The child had a vague resemblance to his father.