mimetizam

Mimetizam, or mimicry, is a natural phenomenon in which an organism or object imitates another to gain an advantage. In biology, mimicry can involve appearance, behavior, sounds, or chemical signals, and it can influence predation, mating, and ecological interactions. The term is also used in culture and technology to describe imitation or emulation.

Biological mimicry is often categorized by the receiver that is deceived. Batesian mimicry occurs when a harmless or palatable species imitates a harmful or unpalatable one to deter predators. Müllerian mimicry appears when two or more unpalatable species converge on similar warning signals, reinforcing avoidance learning in predators. Automimicry, or intraspecific mimicry, involves individuals within a species mimicking other members or their signals. Aggressive mimicry is when a predator or parasite imitates a harmless signal to approach prey or hosts. Some forms involve camouflage or masquerade, where the appearance or behavior makes the imitator resemble a non-prey item.

Examples include the classic Batesian pairing of the viceroy butterfly imitating the monarch, and the diverse warning patterns shared by several poisonous species in Müllerian mimicry. The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) can assume the shapes and movements of other marine animals to avoid detection or to surprise prey.

Mimetizam has inspired biomimetics, a field in which natural strategies are emulated to develop new materials, camouflage technologies, and robots. See also mimesis, camouflage, mimicry in nature.