Mammalian Mimicry.

For my final post i would like too look at possible cases of mimicry in mammals. Mimicry is found across most orders of the animal kingdom but seems under represented in the mammals. Here i will briefly look at two possible cases of mimicry that occur in Africa.

Firstly we will look at the case of Cheetah cubs mimicking Honey Badgers. The Honey Badger is found throughout Africa and is known for its tenacity, intelligence, fierceness and toughness. The honey badger has loose skin that allows it turn and try and attack predators who have grabbed it from behind. The largest known animal to succumb to a Honey Badger was a blue Wildebeest bull who died after the honey badger lacerated its scrotum. This has also been observed against a male lion. The Cheetah is a large, lightweight cat. They specialize in high speed chases and as such have evolved athletic bodies lacking the bulk of lions and leopards. Cheetah are often pushed off their kill by other predators and will be killed if caught by lions, leopards or spotted hyaenas. They live on the open plains and as such cubs are vulnerable to predation. To counter this the cubs have dark coats with a prominent white crest/mane which is aesthetically similar to the markings of honey badgers (Eaton 1976).


















Cheetah Cub showing crest and dark colouration. 



Honey Badger.

Maned rats are found throughout eastern Africa. They are nocturnal and are possible mimics of two species. It is believed that maned rats mimic Porcupines. They are able to erect a crest of hair along their back to superficially resemble the quills of porcupines. It is also believed that the maned rat may mimic the Zorilla. The Zorilla is a small mustelid that is able to spray a foul smelling liquid from glands near its anus. The maned rat is able to produce a foul smell via gland in its skin but is unable to spray. When threatened it will erect its fur displaying contrasting black and white colours like those of the Zorilla (Brittanica 2014).

Maned Rat.


African Porcupine. 


Zorilla.

References:

Eaton, RL 1976,'A Possible Case of Mimicry in Larger Mammals', Evolution, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 853-856.

Encyclopedia Britannica 2014, Encyclopedia Britannica, Chicago,viewed 30 April 2014, <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/361776/maned-rat>.

Bannister, A, Zorilla amongst grass, Photograph, Arkive, viewed 30 April 2014, <http://www.arkive.org/zorilla/ictonyx-striatus/image-G67846.html>.

Blackwell, P, North African Porcupine Scavenging on Ground, Photograph, Arkive, viewed 30 April 2014, <http://www.arkive.org/north-african-crested-porcupine/hystrix-cristata/>.

Deacon, K 2006, Lophiomys imhausi, Photograph, Wikipedia, viewed 30 April 2014, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lophiomys_imhausi.jpg>.

Artist unknown, 2006, Honey Badger, Photograph, Wikipedia, viewed 30 April 2014, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Honey_badger.jpg>.

Artist unknown, 2009, 'Cheetah Cub', Photograph,  The Milgis Trust, Nairobi, Kenya, viewed 30 April 2014, <http://milgistrust.wildlifedirect.org/2009/01/07/the-cheetah-cub-is-fighting-fit/>.