Bent posture improves the protective value of bird dropping masquerading by caterpillars

摘要: Masquerade describes a defence by animals that have evolved to closely resemble inedible objects such as twigs, stones or bird droppings. Animals masquerade often match their models in size shape, and may even adopt specific postures order enhance resemblance, causing predators misclassify them model objects. The caterpillars of some moth species droppings, bend bodies while resting on branches leaves. We hypothesized bending might the caterpillars' resemblance real In this study, we tested hypothesis pinning artificial with green dropping coloration onto tree both straight bent postures, after which exposed predation wild. found adoption posture resulted lower attack rate birds coloration, experienced no benefit from same treatment. This study is first experimental demonstration protective value masquerading prey, highlights importance considering an organism's shape masquerade.