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Aposematism in mammals.

Natasha Howell1, Catherine Sheard2, Manisha Koneru3

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom.

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|August 4, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Black-and-white coloration in mammals signals diverse defenses beyond noxious secretions. This conspicuous coloring advertises morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits, showing aposematism is multifunctional in mammals.

Keywords:
Anal secretionsantipredator defensesblack-and-white colorationbody masspugnacityspinestoxicity

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Aposematic coloration traditionally signals unpalatability or toxicity, with research in mammals focusing on noxious anal secretions.
  • The broader concept of aposematism includes morphological, physiological, and behavioral defenses, with many mammals exhibiting black-and-white patterns without noxious adaptations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the multifaceted roles of black-and-white coloration in terrestrial nonvolant mammals.
  • To determine if conspicuous coloration advertises a wider range of defenses beyond noxious secretions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Bayesian phylogenetic models.
  • Analyzed data from 1726 terrestrial nonvolant mammal species.
  • Examined correlations between black-and-white coloration patterns and various defense mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Conspicuous black-and-white patterns on the head and body advertise morphological (spines, large size), behavioral (pugnacity), and physiological (anal secretions) defenses.
  • Coloration is also linked to sexual signaling and environmental crypsis.
  • Specific patterns correlate with defenses across different mammalian orders: Carnivora (anal secretions, head/body patterns), primates (large body size, pelage patches), and rodents (pugnacity, countershading).

Conclusions:

  • Mammalian black-and-white coloration is multifunctional, warning predators of various defenses, not just noxious secretions.
  • Aposematism in mammals is not limited to carnivores and encompasses a broader array of defensive strategies.