Question

Which of these IS NOT an underlying principle of Batesian Mimicry:

a) Usually models and mimics are brightly coloured
b) The mimics look very much like the models
c) The models and mimics are active at the same time of year
d) Mimics are generally more common than the models
e) Models have some sort of strong defence (usually chemical)

Answer 1

The incorrect principle in the list regarding Batesian mimicry is that mimics are generally more common than the models, which is not true; typically, the harmful models are the less common species.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle which is NOT an underlying principle of Batesian mimicry would be option (d) Mimics are generally more common than the models. In Batesian mimicry, it is typically the model that is less common. The model is a species with a strong defense mechanism, like a chemical defense, which predators learn to avoid due to its warning coloration. A mimic, on the other hand, is a harmless species that imitates the warning coloration of the harmful model to avoid predation, despite lacking the same defenses. If mimics were more common than the models, predators might learn that the warning colors do not always indicate danger, thus negating the effectiveness of the mimicry.