Most mimicry systems involve imperfect mimicry, whereas perfect and high-fidelity mimicry
are rare. When the fidelity of mimicry is high, mimics might be expected to have the upper …

Color change serves many antipredator functions and may allow animals to better match
environments or disrupt outlines to prevent detection. Rapid color change could potentially …

The coevolutionary interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts provide a
powerful system for investigating the diversity of animal coloration. Specifically, reciprocal …

The arms race between brood parasites and their hosts provides a classic model to study
coevolution. Hosts often reject the parasitic egg, and brood parasites should therefore select …

Spectrophotometers allow the objective measurement of colour and as a result are rapidly
becoming a key piece of equipment in the study of animal colouration; however, they also …

Considering its widespread occurrence and importance in the animal kingdom, background
matching is clearly one of the most under-studied means of concealment. Background …

Colour patterns (eg irregular, spotted or barred forms) are widespread in the animal
kingdom, yet their potential role as signals of quality has been mostly neglected. However, a …

Cuckoo eggs famously mimic those of their foster parents to evade rejection from
discriminating hosts. Here we test whether parasites benefit by repeatedly parasitizing the …

Brood parasitism involves the exploitation of host parental care rather than the extraction of
resources directly from hosts. We identify defining characteristics of this strategy and …

Animal coloration patterns, from zebra stripes to bird egg speckles, are remarkably varied.
With research on the perception, function, and evolution of animal patterns growing rapidly …