Mimicry in Nature Comes in Two Main Kinds
To mimic is to imitate. In biology, mimicry describes species that resemble others, and it works in two distinct ways.
To mimic is to imitate someone or something, often to amuse or deceive. Biology divides mimicry into two named kinds: *Batesian mimicry*, where a harmless species copies a dangerous one — a hoverfly resembling a wasp — and *Müllerian mimicry*, where several genuinely dangerous species converge on one warning pattern so predators only need to learn it once. The word comes from Greek *mimos*, an actor or imitator, which also gives *mime* and *mimeograph*.
- To imitate. *He mimicked her accent.*
- An imitator. *A skilled mimic.*
- Batesian mimicry — harmless copies dangerous. *Batesian mimicry.*
- Müllerian mimicry — dangerous species converge. *Müllerian mimicry.*
- Mime — from the same root. *A mime artist.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | mimic | Mimic it. |
| Past | mimicked | He mimicked. |
| Noun | mimic | A good mimic. |
| Noun | mimicry | Animal mimicry. |
| Greek | mimos | An imitator. |
- The parrot mimicked the doorbell.Imitation.
- Hoverflies mimic wasps.Batesian.
- Several toxic butterflies share one pattern.Müllerian.
Kinds of mimicry
- Batesian — a harmless species copies a protected one
- Müllerian — several protected species share one signal
- Aggressive mimicry — a predator resembles something harmless
- Camouflage — resembling the background rather than another species
- Automimicry — one part of an animal resembling another, such as false eyes
Latin *mimicus*, from Greek *mimikos*, from *mimos*, an imitator or actor in a farce.
What is Batesian mimicry?
When a harmless species evolves to resemble a dangerous one, gaining protection without any real defence.
Why do several toxic species share a pattern?
That is Müllerian mimicry. Predators only need one bad experience to learn to avoid all of them.