Batesian mimicry

American  

[beyt-see-uhn] / ˈbeɪt si ən /

noun

Ecology.

1. the protective resemblance in appearance of a palatable or harmless species, as the viceroy butterfly, to an unpalatable or dangerous species, as the monarch butterfly, that is usually avoided by predators.

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Batesian mimicry British  

/ ˈbeɪtsɪən /

noun

1. zoology mimicry in which a harmless species is protected from predators by means of its resemblance to a harmful or inedible species

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Batesian mimicry Scientific  

/ bāt′sē-ən /

1. A form of protective mimicry in which an unprotected species (the mimic) closely resembles an unpalatable or harmful species (the model), and therefore is similarly avoided by predators. The close resemblance between certain harmless flies and stinging bees, and the similarity between the colored stripes of the nonpoisonous king snake and those of the highly venomous coral snake, are examples of Batesian mimicry. Batesian mimicry is named after the British naturalist Henry Walter Bates (1825–92).

2. Compare aggressive mimicry Müllerian mimicry

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Etymology

Origin of Batesian mimicry

After Henry Walter Bates (1825–92), English naturalist, who described such mimicry in 1861; see -ian

Example Sentences

The paper, published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, is entitled: "Transposable element insertions are associated with Batesian mimicry in the pantropical butterfly Hypolimnas misippus."

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

In Batesian mimicry, a harmless species imitates the warning coloration of a harmful one.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Batesian mimicry, because it involves nontoxic species that resembles a toxic species.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In many systems involving SDCs, either Müllerian or Batesian mimicry, or both, have evolved as strategies to exploit this highly effective antipredator adaptation.

From Scientific American • Aug. 21, 2012

There is good experimental evidence for Batesian mimicry and the advantages gained by innocuous animals that resemble well-defended animals.

From New York Times • Feb. 15, 2010