Organism
Viceroy Butterfly
TL;DR
Viceroy butterflies are the classic example of Batesian mimicry - a palatable species mimicking the coloration of toxic monarch butterflies.
Viceroy butterflies are the classic example of Batesian mimicry - a palatable species mimicking the coloration of toxic monarch butterflies. Predators learn to avoid monarchs after tasting their toxicity, and viceroys exploit this learned avoidance. The deception works only as long as mimics remain rare relative to models.
Notable Traits of Viceroy Butterfly
- Monarch mimicry
- Orange-and-black wing pattern
- Frequency-dependent success