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In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an animal or a plant [1] to avoid observation or detection by other animals. It may be part of a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation . Methods include camouflage , nocturnality , subterranean lifestyle and mimicry .
The walking leaf insects from the Indo-Pacific region resemble tree leaves in appearance and posture.In biology, mimesis (from ancient Greek μίμησις mímēsis, "imitation") [1] is a form of crypsis where living creatures mimic the form, colour and posture of their surroundings to avoid being noticed from their surroundings by predators depending on sight. [2]
The specific terms masquerade and mimesis are sometimes used when the models are inanimate, and the mimicry's purpose is crypsis. [32] [14] [2] For example, animals such as flower mantises, planthoppers, comma and geometer moth caterpillars resemble twigs, bark, leaves, bird droppings or flowers.
This is a behavioral form of detection avoidance called crypsis used by animals to either avoid predation or to enhance prey hunting. Predation risk has long been recognized as critical in shaping behavioral decisions. For example, this predation risk is of prime importance in determining the time of evening emergence in echolocating bats.
Studies evaluating the role of crypsis on herbivory measure leaf quality, such as nitrogen and protein levels, water content, etc. [4] Ehleringer et al. examined nitrogen levels, as an indicator of protein status, of mistletoe and their host (Acacia, Cassia, Casuarina, Ceriops, and Eucalyptus) to determine if mimicry reduced herbivory in the plant.
Study of mimicry in plants broadened in the 21st century, with the discovery of Batesian mimicry in plants in 2003, [10] and crypsis or leaf mimicry in 2014. [1] Until then, mimicry in plants was studied infrequently, both because it is uncommon and because botanists considered mainly physical factors in plant ecology.
Examples include many moth, butterfly, and fish species that have "eye-spots". These are large dark markings that help prey escape by causing predators to attack a false target. For example, the gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) shows the false head at its rear; it has a better chance of surviving an attack to that part than an attack to the head.
When an insect looks like an inedible or inconsequential object in the environment that is of no interest to a predator, such as leaves and twigs, it is said to display mimesis, a form of crypsis. Insects may also take on different types of camouflage, another type of crypsis.