Skelhorn, J., Rowland, H.M., Speed, M.P. and Ruxton, G.D. (2010) Masquerade: camouflage without crypsis. Science, 327(5961), p. 51. (doi: 10.1126/science.1181931)
Full text not currently available from Enlighten.
Abstract
Masquerade describes the resemblance of an organism to an inedible object and is hypothesized to facilitate misidentification of that organism by its predators or its prey. To date, there has been no empirical demonstration of the benefits of masquerade. Here, we show that two species of caterpillar obtain protection from an avian predator by being misidentified as twigs. By manipulating predators' previous experience of the putative model but keeping their exposure to the masquerader the same, we determined that predators misidentify masquerading prey as their models, rather than simply failing to detect them.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Skelhorn, Dr John and Ruxton, Professor Graeme and Rowland, Dr Hannah |
| Authors: | Skelhorn, J., Rowland, H.M., Speed, M.P., and Ruxton, G.D. |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Science |
| Publisher: | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| ISSN: | 0036-8075 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1095-9203 |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Deposit and Record Details
Deposit and Record Details