Is it a twig or an insect? A harmless moth or a scary owl? Animals have amazing tricks up their sleeves to protect themselves, take advantage of looking like another creature, or look like their environment.
Mimicry and camouflage are two separate survival tactics.
An example of mimicry is an animal appearing to be a different animal, usually a larger and stronger one, to scare off predators. The pattern on the wings of an Owl Moth (photo above) resembles the eyes and face of an owl.
Stock Images of Mimicry in Nature
The King Snake, which is non-poisonous, has a scale pattern like that of the Coral Snake, a type of venomous snake. It tricks predators into thinking they have encountered its very dangerous relative.
Camouflage, where an animal resembles its surroundings to hide from predators, is a much-studied type of mimicry.
The Dead Leaf Katydid is a beautiful example. It looks just like the dead leaves it lives on. Other animals look like rocks, thorns, twigs, flowers, and even bird droppings.
Animal mimicry is found through the animal and even the plant world. One of the most amazing examples is the octopus, which can change not only its color but also its skin texture within seconds to hide in a variety of underwater environments.
Additionally, the mimicking species may smell, sound or act like the creature or object it is copying.
Greeting Cards, Mugs, Masks, and Other Mimicry Custom Gifts
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