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 colouration.
B)cryptic colouration.
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 warning coloration of the Monarch butterfly to avoid predation, even though it does not have the toxic chemicals that the Monarch possesses.

Monarch Butterflies Are Protected from Birds and Other Predators Because