Detectability of a poison frog and its Batesian mimic depends on body posture and viewing angle

Aposematic signals warn predators that prey should be avoided due to dangerous secondary defences. However, as warning signals do not always produce avoidance, warning colours may evolve as a trade-off balancing detectability against signal saliency. For Batesian mimics, which display salient signals but lack secondary defences, the costs of predator encounters are greater, potentially increasing the benefit of crypsis. This raises the question of whether imperfect mimicry may reduce detectability while retaining mimetic efficacy. We tested this hypothesis with the poisonous frog Ameerega bilinguis and undefended Batesian mimic Allobates zaparo, using computational visual modelling and screen-based detection trials with human participants. We found that both species incorporate camouflage into their warning colours, but to different degrees depending on viewing angle and behaviour. Contrary to expectation, we found differences in detectability between model and mimic that do not adhere ..., , , # Data from: Detectability of a poison frog and its Batesian mimic depends on body posture and viewing angle

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bzkh189k7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bzkh189k7)

## Description of the data and file structure

This experiment sought to quantify imperfect batesian mimicry, i.e. quantify differences in chromatic and achromatic salience in warning signals of a toxic frog 'model' species and its non-toxic 'mimic' species. 

We collected live specimens from their natural habitat and photographed them. We then analysed those photographs in ImageJ and conducted human-participant observer detection experiments on a computer screen to quantify phenotypic mismatch and differences in detectability between model and mimic.

### Files and variables

#### File: DRYAD\_data.zip

**Description:** Contains all files required to replicate findings. 

Data used in:

McEwen, et al.

Detectability of a poison frog and its Batesian mimic depends on body posture and viewing angl...

警戒信号（Aposematic signal）会警告捕食者，由于猎物具有危险的次级防御机制，应避免捕食它们。然而，由于警戒信号并非总能引发捕食者的回避行为，警戒色的演化可能是一种权衡——在可探测性与信号显著性之间寻求平衡。对于贝氏拟态者（Batesian mimic）而言，它们虽能展示显著信号却缺乏次级防御机制，因此与捕食者相遇的代价更高，这可能会提升隐蔽性（crypsis）的收益。这引发了一个问题：不完全拟态是否能在保留拟态有效性的同时降低可探测性？我们以有毒蛙类Ameerega bilinguis和无防御能力的贝氏拟态者Allobates zaparo为研究对象，通过计算视觉建模和基于屏幕的人类参与者探测实验，对这一假设进行了验证。我们发现，两种物种的警戒色中均融入了伪装元素，但程度因视角和行为而异。与预期相反，我们发现模型物种与拟态物种之间的可探测性差异并不符合……，，，# 数据来源：《毒蛙及其贝氏拟态者的可探测性取决于身体姿态与视角》 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bzkh189k7]

数据与文件结构描述：

本实验旨在量化不完全贝氏拟态，即量化有毒蛙类“模型”物种及其无毒“拟态”物种的警戒信号在颜色显著性（chromatic）和非颜色显著性（achromatic）上的差异。我们从自然栖息地采集活体样本并进行拍摄，随后使用ImageJ软件分析这些照片，并通过基于计算机屏幕的人类参与者观测探测实验，量化模型物种与拟态物种之间的表型不匹配及可探测性差异。

文件与变量：

文件：DRYAD_data.zip 描述：包含复制研究结果所需的所有文件。数据来源：McEwen等人，《毒蛙及其贝氏拟态者的可探测性取决于身体姿态与视角》……