Question

Read the passage and answer the following question.

Mimicry is an important biotic factor in communities all over the world. For instance, viceroy butterflies closely resemble (mimic) monarch butterflies. Birds that eat viceroys enjoy a good meal, but those that eat monarchs retch right away. The behaviour of viceroy butterfly describes the type of mimicry is

• A. Mullerian
• B. Aggressive
• C. Crypsis
• D. Batesian
• E. Deflection

Answer 1

The correct option is D Batesian

Batesian mimicry refers to the resemblance of a harmless or palatable species with that of a dangerous or unpalatable one to make predators avoid them. It is opposite to Mullerian mimicry wherein dangerous, unpalatable, or poisonous species resemble one another to make predator recognize them easily. Viceroy butterflies mimic distasteful monarch butterflies to avoid predation, exhibiting Batesian mimicry. Predators or parasites exhibiting resemblance to harmless model so that their respective prey/host can not identify them exhibit aggressive mimicry. Crypsis (being not obvious to predator) and deflection (mimicry, camouflage etc) are antipredator behaviours. Thus, the correct answer is option D.