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BIOLOGICAL MIMICRY


See: Entry on Mimicry in "Semiotics Encyclopedia Online" (Eds. Bouissac, Paul; Lewis, Ann. E.J. Pratt Library, Victoria University. http://www.semioticon.com/seo/).


Four definitions

  • Mimicry occurs when an organism or group of organisms (the mimic) simulates signal properties of a second living organism (the model), such that the mimic is able to take some advantage of the regular response of a sensitive signal-receiver (the operator) towards the model, through mistaken identity of the mimic for the model. (Vane-Wright 1976: 50).
  • I define mimicry as the process whereby the sensory systems of one animal (operator) are unable to discriminate consistently a second organism or parts thereof (mimic) from either another organism or the physical environment (the models), thereby increasing the fitness of the mimic. (Wiens 1978: 367).
  • Mimicry is a biological phenomenon characterized by the superficial resemblance of two or more organisms that are not closely related taxonomically. This resemblance confers an advantage - such as protection from predation - upon one or both organisms through some form of "information flow" that passes between the organisms and the animate agent of selection. (Wickler 1998: 144).
  • Proceeding from semiotics the essence of mimicry is the presence of two living beings (object) who have different applicability (interpretant) to the receiver (interpreter) and who because of the similarity of their messages or cues (representamen) are at least partly undistinctable for the receiver (Maran 2005: 130).


Four photographs


Ophrys insectifera

Leucochloridium paradoxum

Syrphus sp.

Inachis io



Four books
  • Wickler, Wolfgang 1968. Mimicry in Plants and Animals. Martin, R. D., trans. London: George Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
  • Brower, Lincoln P. (ed.) 1988. Mimicry and the Evolutionary Process. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
  • Komarék, Stanislav 2003. Mimicry, Aposematism and Related Phenomena. Mimetism in Nature and the History of its Study. Muenchen: Lincom Europa.
  • Ruxton, Graeme D.; Speed, Michael P.; Sherratt, Thomas N. 2004. Avoiding Attack. The Evolutionary Ecology of Crypsis, Warning Signals and Mimicry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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