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A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

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Predators are less likely to misclassify masquerading prey when their models are present.

John Skelhorn¹, Graeme D Ruxton

¹Division of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G20 8QQ, UK. j.skelhorn@bio.gla.ac.uk

Biology Letters

|April 23, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Animals that mimic inanimate objects gain protection by being misclassified as their models. Masquerading prey are more likely to be misclassified when viewed alone, suggesting predators

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Area of Science:

Animal behavior
Ecology
Evolutionary biology

Background:

Masquerading animals exhibit striking visual resemblances to inanimate objects.
These animals achieve protection from predators by being misclassified as their models, not merely by avoiding detection.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of predator misclassification in the survival of masquerading animals.
To understand the ecological conditions that favor masquerade.

Main Methods:

Utilized domestic chicks as predators and twig-mimicking caterpillars as prey.
Compared misclassification rates of masquerading prey when viewed in isolation versus alongside their models.

Main Results:

Masquerading prey were more likely to be misclassified as their models when viewed in isolation.
Despite this, prey still benefitted from masquerade to some extent in both viewing conditions.

Conclusions:

Predicts selection pressure for masqueraders to inhabit microhabitats minimizing simultaneous viewing with models.
Suggests a potential selection pressure for masqueraders to enhance resemblance in environments where simultaneous viewing is common.