บทคัดย่อ :
The ability of an animal to avoid predators or defend itself is strongly linked to survival. Some species minimize detection with camouflage (crypsis), while others use chemicals (including toxins such as venom) and various warning signals to ward off potential predators (Ruxton et al. 2004). However, such toxins are metabolically expensive to produce (McCue 2006), and many harmless species have evolved to fool predators by mimicking venomous species. This phenomenon is known as protective mimicry (Bates 1862; Poulton 1890). Mimicry is very common among snakes, given that they are often both predators and prey of visually oriented species (Greene 1988). While working in Thailand, a biodiversity hotspot with over 176 snake species, we have seen many such mimics. The mock viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) is a perfect example, one that we frequently encountered in the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve in northeastern Thailand.
เอกสารอ้างอิง :
Silva, I., Crane, M., Artchawakom, T., Suwanwaree, P., & Strine, C. T. (2016). More than meets the eye: change in pupil shape by a mock viper. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 14(8), 453-454.
