Müllerian mimicry

or Mul·le·ri·an mimicry

[ myoo-leer-ee-uh n, muh-, mi- ]

/ myuˈlɪər i ən, mʌ-, mɪ- /

noun Ecology.

the resemblance in appearance of two or more unpalatable species, which are avoided by predators to a greater degree than any one of the species would be otherwise.

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Compare Batesian mimicry.

Origin of Müllerian mimicry

after German-born Brazilian biologist Fritz Müller (1821–97), who described it in 1878; see -ian

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for mullerian mimicry

Müllerian mimicry

/ (muːˈlɪərɪən) /

noun

zoology mimicry in which two or more harmful or inedible species resemble each other, so that predators tend to avoid them

Word Origin for Müllerian mimicry

C19: named after J.F.T. Müller (1821–97), German zoologist who first described it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for mullerian mimicry

Müllerian mimicry

[ myōō-lîr′ē-ən, mə- ]

A form of protective mimicry in which two or more poisonous or unpalatable species closely resemble each other and are therefore avoided equally by all their natural predators. The similarity in coloration between the monarch and viceroy butterflies, once considered an example of Batesian mimicry, is now generally considered as Müllerian mimicry because the viceroy is thought to be as bad-tasting to birds as the monarch. Müllerian mimicry is named after the German-born Brazilian zoologist Fritz Müller (1821-97). Compare aggressive mimicry Batesian mimicry.