AY Honor Mimicry and Camouflage Answer Key

Mimicry and Camouflage

Skill Level

1

Year

2025

Version

15.12.2025

Approval authority

South American Division

1

What is mimicry, what is camouflage, and what are their purposes?

2

Give at least one example of mimicry for each:

2a

Insects

2b

Birds

2c

Reptiles

3

Give at least one example of camouflage for each:

3a

Insects

3b

Reptiles

3c

Marine animals

4

Answer the following questions:

4a

What is the advantage of the milk snake having colors practically identical to those of the coral snake?

4b

In the animal world, who are the kings of camouflage on land and in the sea?

4c

What is the shape of the eggs of the stick insect (Phibalosoma phyllinum)?

4d

How do insects specializing in mimicry walk?

4e

What are the advantages and disadvantages of insects that resemble leaves?

4f

How does the assassin bug (Acanthaspis petax) hide from predators?

5

Give examples of animals that exhibit characteristics contrary to mimicry and explain why this happens in nature.

6

Illustrate the mimicry of the following species:

6a

Orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)

6b

Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus)

6c

Boie's frog (Proceratophrys boiei)

7

Watch videos or photographs/images that show the camouflage of the following species:

7a

Mimic octopus

7b

Goniurellia tridens

7c

Lantern fly (Fulgora laternaria)

References