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Natural selection for juvenile lizards mimicking noxious beetles
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 14, 1977
Summary
Juvenile Eremias lugubris lizards in southern Africa exhibit mimicry, resembling pungent beetles. This unique invertebrate mimicry appears to significantly reduce predation on young lizards.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Adult Eremias lugubris lizards display cryptic coloration and typical lizard locomotion.
- Juvenile Eremias lugubris exhibit conspicuous black and white coloration and unique foraging behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the unique mimicry observed in juvenile Eremias lugubris.
- To determine the ecological significance of this mimicry in predator avoidance.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of coloration, gait, and size between juvenile lizards and mimic beetles.
- Behavioral observations of juvenile lizards during foraging activities.
- Assessment of predation pressures on juvenile lizards exhibiting mimicry.
Main Results:
- Juvenile Eremias lugubris mimic the appearance and gait of "oogpister" beetles (Carabidae: Anthia).
- This mimicry is believed to be the first reported instance of a terrestrial vertebrate mimicking an invertebrate.
- The mimicry appears to confer a survival advantage by reducing predation on juveniles.
Conclusions:
- Juvenile Eremias lugubris employ Batesian mimicry, resembling a noxious invertebrate.
- This evolutionary strategy highlights novel predator-prey dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems.
- The study provides evidence for the adaptive significance of mimicry in vertebrate survival.