Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

ObviouslyLOL t1_itd1708 wrote

Reply to comment by DontWorryImADr in is it the case that poisonous animals tend to be colourful and if so why is it that they tend to evolve to be colourful moreso then other animals? by HumbleProdiGenius

Thanks for adding that. Regarding the Mertensian mimicry, is the non-fatal threat really needed? Whatever predator is eating this prey would also have genetic variations which dictate which foods they go after. Those with a proclivity for eating the fatal prey would die off; those without would pass on that aversion.

4

DontWorryImADr t1_itd7uhc wrote

Inherently, you are correct about “the dead don’t breed” and thus it would eventually be conveyed generations down the road to absolutely never touch those things. And in either circumstance, being BRIGHT AND OBVIOUS to potential predators right now is a huge disadvantage. That disadvantage is massive if the trait banks on “the next generation is less likely to eat something like this”. Genetic memory isn’t an ideal value compared to the cost, while showing relevance to a non-deadly warning would be adopted faster. And it benefits the non-deadly variety since both warning routes receive selection pressure. Every event is potentially a usage of defense material (venom), injurious, or fatal, so even snakes with deadly venom are benefitted through avoidance rather than needing to expend the venom.

7