Morphological mimicry
- Pronunciation
- /mor-foh-loh-jee-kuhl mi-mik-ree/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Morphological mimicry
- Plural
- Morphological mimicries
Definition
A type of mimicry where an organism evolves to resemble the appearance of another organism, often for protection.
Etymology
From Greek 'morphe' meaning 'form' and 'mimikē', meaning 'imitation'.
Example
A harmless hoverfly mimics the appearance of a wasp to deter predators.
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Morphological mimicry can involve various aspects such as shape, color, and behavior.