Monarch butterflies are protected from birds and other predators because of cardiac glycosides they incorporate into their tissues from eating milkweed when they were in their caterpillar stage. The wings of a different species of butterfly, the Viceroy, look nearly identical to the Monarch so predators that have learned not to eat the bad-tasting Monarch avoid Viceroys as well. This example best describes
A) aposmatic coloration.
B) cryptic coloration.
C) Batesian mimicry.
D) Müllerian mimicry.
E) mutualism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of Batesian mimicry, where the Viceroy butterfly mimics the Monarch's warning coloration without actually being poisonous. This helps the Viceroy avoid predators that have learned to avoid the Monarch.

Monarch Butterflies Are Protected from Birds and Other Predators Because