Biology
The Evolutionary Ecology of Aposematism and Mimicry in Toxic Amphibians
Quick fact
In some poison dart frog species, individuals from different populations can have completely different color patterns, each advertising the same toxicity, while harmless species often evolve to resemble them—a phenomenon known as Batesian mimicry that can fool predators into avoiding a perfectly edible meal.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a tiny frog so brilliantly colored that it stands out against the leafy forest floor—yet predators rarely eat it. How can being so conspicuous be a survival strategy?