Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Proc Biol Sci. 2010 Sep 7;277(1694):2577-85. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.0586. Epub 2010 May 19.
Batesian mimicry evolves when a palatable species (the 'mimic') co-opts a warning signal from a dangerous species (the 'model') and thereby deceives its potential predators. Longstanding theory predicts that this protection from predation should break down where the model is absent. Thus, mimics are expected to only co-occur with their model. Yet, many mimics violate this prediction and occur in areas where their model is absent. Here, we discuss the causes and consequences of such allopatric mimics. We also describe how these 'rule-bending' mimics provide critical insights into diverse topics ranging from how Batesian mimicry evolves to its possible role in speciation.
贝氏拟态是指当一个可食用的物种（“拟态者”）采用来自危险物种（“模型”）的警告信号时进化而来的，从而欺骗其潜在的捕食者。长期以来的理论预测，在模型不存在的情况下，这种免受捕食的保护应该会失效。因此，拟态者应该只与它们的模型共同出现。然而，许多拟态者违反了这一预测，出现在它们的模型不存在的地区。在这里，我们讨论了这种异域拟态的原因和后果。我们还描述了这些“打破规则”的拟态者如何为从贝氏拟态如何进化到可能在物种形成中的作用等各种主题提供关键的见解。
