申論題

        In the animal kingdom, not getting eaten is a top priority. To this end, some species have developed weapons, such as a painful sting or a deadly bite, and warn other creatures of this fact with bright colors and patterns. Others, lacking weapons themselves, employ a more cunning strategy. They simply copy the warning signs of a truly deadly creature, and as a result of this fakery, are left well alone. 

       This phenomenon has been named Batesian mimicry after the scientist Henry Bates, who first observed it in the mid1800s. While collecting butterflies in Brazil, Bates observed that a number of common, slow-flying butterflies were being ignored by predators even though they were easy catches. He guessed that these butterflies must taste disgusting and that predators had learned to avoid them as a result. He later observed that certain rare butterflies of different species share color patterns with these bad-tasting butterflies. He concluded that the rare butterflies must gain some level of protection from the resemblance. Predators had come to connect certain color patterns with a nasty eating experience, and the rare butterflies had evolved to take advantage of this fact. 

       Instances of Batesian mimicry can be found all over the animal kingdom. The harmless king snake, for example, has developed a color pattern that is almost identical to that of the deadly coral snake. One look at the distinctive red, yellow, and black bands on a king snake is enough to make predators think twice about eating it, just in case it packs a venomous bite like its near twin. Similarly, many species of flies have the same black-and-yellow stripes as bees and wasps. Eager to avoid getting stung, most predators will stay well-clear, though in fact these flies have no stings to speak of. But surely the most innovative of these animals is the mimic octopus. This master of disguise can completely change not only its colors but also its body shape in order to resemble the venomous lionfish, the deadly sea snake, and several other dangerous creatures of the deep. 

       These examples show that animals don’t have to pack deadly weapons to survive in nature. Sometimes, just pretending to be dangerous is good enough to make predators keep their distance. For these accomplished Batesian mimics, there’s really no shame in faking it!