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 50 coral snakes DHJanzen100214.jpg high resolution
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| Up until this point there has been an implied major learning component by the predators, at least with the various examples of mimicry among butterflies (and skunks/porcupines) - though the avoidance of false eyes by vertebrate predators will clearly be hard-wired. However, a conundrum was presented to mimicry biologists by coral snakes. These extremely poisonous snakes are not good candidates for a system where the predator has to learn to avoid the prey - the coral snake - through repeated unpleasant encounters. The first close encounter with a coral snake is likely to be the last one. Incidentally, coral snakes are predators on other snakes, and presumably their venom - a neurotoxin that is extremely toxic to vertebrates - evolved as both something for subduing prey and defense. | ||
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