Patronizing coloring in animals. Mimicry, disguise and protective coloring

Patronizing coloring is the protective color and shape of animals that make their owners invisible in their habitats. In fact, this is a form of passive protection from natural predators. Patronizing coloring is combined with a certain behavior of its owner. Usually the animal hides on the background, which corresponds to its coloring, in addition, it takes a certain position. For example, many butterflies are located on the surface of the tree in such a way that the spots on their wings coincide with the spots on the bark, and the bittern that nests in the reeds, in the event of danger, pulls its body along the stems of plants.

The role of passive protection in animal life

Protective coloration is especially important for the protection of organisms in the early stage of ontogenesis (larvae, eggs, chicks), as well as for adult individuals who have a sedentary mode of existence or are at rest (for example, sleep) for a long period. In addition, it plays an important role in the conditions of rapid changes in the environment. Thus, many animals have the opportunity to change their color when changing to another background. For example, in agama, flounder, chameleon. In temperate latitudes, many animals and birds are prone to seasonal color changes.

It is accepted to distinguish three types of patronizing coloring: disguise, demonstration and mimicry. All of them arise as a result of the interaction of living things in the biogeocenosis against the background of certain environmental conditions. Patronizing coloring is a biocenotic adaptation, developed as a result of the conjugate evolution of predators and victims. In addition to patronizing, there are also coloring warnings, attracting and dismembering.

Protective Painting

As mentioned above, the protective coloring of animals always has a similarity to the environment in which they live. For example, desert lizards or snakes have a yellow-gray color scheme to match the vegetation and soil, and the inhabitants of the snowy areas have white feathers and fur. Such camouflage of animals allows them to remain invisible to the enemy. It can be to some extent the same for the inhabitants of completely different natural zones. For example, for mantis or grasshoppers, lizards or frogs living in the grassy cover of the middle zone, a characteristic green color is characteristic. It also prevails in insects, reptiles, amphibians and even in some species of tropical forest birds. Often, the protective coating can include a pattern. For example, butterfly ribbons have on their wings an ornament of many stripes, specks and lines. When they sit on a tree, they completely merge with the pattern of its bark. Another important element of protective coloring is the effect of counter-shade - this is when the illuminated side of the animal has a darker color than the one that is in the shade. This principle is observed in fish, living in the upper layers of water.

Seasonal coloring

For example, you can consider the inhabitants of the tundra. Thus, ptarmigans or arctic foxes in the summer have a brown coloration to the color of vegetation, stones and lichens, and in winter it becomes white. Also inhabitants of the middle band, such as foxes, caresses, rabbits, ermines, change their hair color twice a year. Seasonal coloring exists also in insects. For example, a leaf-shaped with folded wings is surprisingly similar to a leaf of a tree. In the summer it is green, and in the autumn it becomes brownish-yellow.

Repellent coloring

Animals that have a bright color are well visible, they often keep open, in case of danger they do not hide. They do not need to be cautious, because often they are poisonous or inedible. Their warning coloring signals to all others - do not touch. Most often it includes various combinations of such colors: red, black, yellow, white. As an example, there are a number of insects: wasps, bees, hornets, ladybugs, mahaon caterpillars, and so on; And animals: drezolazy, salamanders. For example, slime drezolaza is so poisonous that it is used to treat arrowheads. One such arrow can kill a large leopard.

What is mimicry?

Let's consider what is meant by this term. Mimicry in animals is the similarity of defenseless species to species well protected. A similar phenomenon in nature was first discovered in South American butterflies, so in the flocks of the hilikonids (inedible for birds), whitecaps were seen which were very similar in color, size, shape and manner to the first. This phenomenon is widespread among insects (butterfly-glaznitsy masked under the hornet, flies-syphides under wasps and bees), fish and snakes. Well, we have examined what mimicry is, now we will understand the concept of form, dismembering and changing coloring.

Protective Shape

There are many animals in which the shape of the body is similar to different objects of the environment. Such properties save them from enemies, especially if the form is combined with a protective coloration. There are many kinds of caterpillars that can be stretched at an angle to the tree branch and freeze, in which case they become like a twig or knot. Similarity with plants is widespread in tropical insect species : mantis devilish, cicada adelungia, cycloptera, acridoxena, etc. With the help of the body, a sea clown or a rag-racer can be camouflaged.

Dissecting coloring

The coloring of many representatives of the animal world is a combination of stripes and spots that do not correspond to the form of the owner, but in tone and ornament merge with the surrounding background. A similar coloring, as it were, dismembers the animal, hence its name. As an example, you can bring a giraffe or a zebra. Their patchy and striped figures are almost invisible among the vegetation of the African savannah, especially in the twilight, when the king of beasts goes hunting . A large masking effect due to the dissecting coloring can be observed in some amphibians. For example, the body of the South African toad Bufo superciliaris is visually divided into two parts, as a result, it completely loses its shape. Many species of snakes also have a dismembering coloring, this makes them invisible against the background of fallen leaves and mottled vegetation. In addition, this kind of camouflage is actively used by the inhabitants of the underwater world and insects.

Changing coloring

This property makes animals unobtrusive when changing the situation. There are many fish that can change their color when changing the background. For example, flounder, thalassoma, sea needles, skates, dogs, etc. They can change their color and lizards, this is most clearly manifested in the wood chameleon. In addition, the octopus shell changes its color in case of danger, it can also skillfully mask under the soils of any color, while repeating the most cunning ornament of the seabed. Masterfully controlled with their coloring are various crustaceans, amphibians, insects and spiders.