Question

Which of these is NOT true concerning Batesian mimicry:

Select one:
a. Monarch and Viceroy butterflies are an example of Batesian Mimicry
b. One of the lookalikes is harmless (is safe to eat)
c. One of the lookalikes has a strong defence (is not good to eat)
d. The lookalikes usually have a bright or bold appearance, one easily learned by a predator
e. Mimics are more common than models

Answer 1

The incorrect statement about Batesian mimicry is that Monarch and Viceroy butterflies demonstrate this form of mimicry, while they actually exhibit Müllerian mimicry. The correct form, Batesian mimicry, involves a harmless species (mimic) imitating a harmful species (model) to deter predators. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that is NOT true concerning Batesian mimicry is: 'Monarch and Viceroy butterflies are an example of Batesian Mimicry'. In fact, this is an example of Müllerian mimicry, where both species are distasteful to predators. In Batesian mimicry, a harmless species imitates the warning coloration of a harmful one.

This dynamic features a model, which is the harmful species, and a mimic, which is the harmless imitator. Examples include the bumblebee and the bee-like robber fly, or a wasp and a hoverfly. The mimic gains protection by capitalizing on the predator's learned avoidance of the model's bright or bold appearance.

However, it is not true that mimics are more common than models; rather, it is typically the other way around, or they exist in a balanced frequency that maintains the efficacy of the mimicry.