Deimatic behaviours, also referred to as startle behaviours, are used against predators and
rivals. Although many are spectacular, their proximate and ultimate causes remain unclear …

Highlights•Researchers use neophobia tests for many purposes, but produce conflicting
results.•Attention to cognitive mechanisms and ecological context reveals testing issues.•We …

Literature Cited to accompany Animal Communication, 2e Page 1 Principles of Animal
Communication, Second Edition Jack W. Bradbury and Sandra L. Vehrencamp Chapter 14 …

Throughout their lives animals must complete many tasks, including finding food, avoiding
predators, attracting mates, and navigating through a complex and dynamic environment …

Wolves excitedly greet each other as members of the pack come together; a bumble bee
uses its long tongue to reach the nectar at the base of a foxglove flower; a mongoose swiftly …

Animals possess a range of defensive markings to reduce the risk of predation, including
warning colours, camouflage, eyespots and mimicry. These different strategies are …

Some eyespots are thought to deflect attack away from the vulnerable body, yet there is
limited empirical evidence for this function and its adaptive advantage. Here, we …

The tortoise beetle Charidotella egregia is able to modify the structural color of its cuticle
reversibly, when disturbed by stressful external events. After field observations …

Animals display incredibly diverse color patterns yet little is known about the underlying
genetic basis of these phenotypes. However, emerging results are reshaping our view of …

Multimodal defensive displays are commonplace, with prey combining conspicuous
coloration, sounds, odours and other chemical emissions to deter predators. These …