What distinguishes Batesian mimicry from Müllerian mimicry?

• A. Batesian mimicry involves two harmful species sharing warning signals; Müllerian mimicry involves a harmless mimicking a harmful signal.
• B. Batesian mimicry involves a harmless species mimicking a harmful signal; Müllerian mimicry involves two or more harmful species sharing warning signals.
• C. Batesian mimicry relies on camouflage without warning signals; Müllerian mimicry relies on bright colors.
• D. Both mimicry types require no predator learning.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how different mimics use warning signals to influence predator behavior. Batesian mimicry happens when a harmless species imitates a harmful one, gaining protection because predators mistake it for the defended species. Müllerian mimicry, on the other hand, occurs when two or more genuinely harmful species share the same warning signal, reinforcing avoidance in predators through multiple examples.

The best choice captures these ideas: a harmless species mimicking a harmful signal, and Müllerian mimicry involving two or more harmful species sharing warning signals. This aligns with how predators learn to avoid the pattern and how the costs and benefits balance for the mimics.

For context, think of a harmless butterfly that looks like a toxic monarch to deter predators, versus several toxic species that all display the same bright warning pattern so predators quickly learn to steer clear of that pattern. The other statements mix up which party is harmless or harmful or overstate the role of camouflage versus warning signals.