Mimicry Collection (#7)

Bird of paradise flower
Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) flower. This flower is also known as the crane flower. These names are due to the flowers appearance resembling that of a bird

Lithops lesliei Mariae
Living stone plant (Lithops lesliei Mariae )

Lithops aucampiae Kuruman form
Living stone plants (Lithops aucampiae Kuruman form)

Praying mantis (order Mantodea) on a flower. Photographed in Israel

Attacus atlas moth incipient mimicry grn
Wing tip of an atlas moth (Attacus atlas) of Northern India showing the incipient ocelli and markings which appear to resemble a snakes head

Argus feather and Darwin illustration
Composite photograph of Argus secondary wing feather left and right Fig 56. Page 143 Vol II of Charles Darwin " The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex" 1871

Octopus on the seabed
Octopus (order Octopoda) on the seabed. Unknown species of octopus camouflaged against the bleached sands of a coral lagoon

Barbed fishing fly, SEM
Barbed fishing fly, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The fly, usually made with feathers and hair, imitates the natural food of the fish and stimulates it to feed

Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). Longhorn beetle wasp mimic on a leaf. Photographed in Sweden

Skeleton shrimp on a sponge. Group of skeleton shrimp (Caprella septentrionalis) waiting to catch their prey. Skeleton shrimp mimic the colour and shape of the fronds of seaweed

Pregnant pygmy seahorse. Pregnant male pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged against sea fan coral. Like all seahorses, pygmy seahorses have an unusal form of reproduction

Mimic surgeonfish. Mimic, or chocolate, surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus) are so-called because the juveniles very closely resemble pygmy angelfish (Centropyge argi)

Tonguefish on the seabed. Tonguefish (family Cynoglossidae) are often found mainly in brackish water, such as where rivers flow into the sea, but a few species are found in deep sea floors

Denises pygmy seahorse camouflaged against sea fan coral. Denises pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise) are one of the smallest pygmy seahorses and are named after photographer Denise Tackett

Stinkhorn fungus (Phallus impudicus) recently emerged from the egg stage. The tip of the fungus exudes a glutinous gleba (spore mass)

Spruners orchid (Oprhys spruneri)
Spruners orchid flower (Ophrys spruneri). Photographed in the Pelopnnese peninsula, Greece, in spring

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) in flower. Insect-mimic. Hants
ROG-13187 Fly Orchid - in flower. Insect-mimic Hants, UK Ophrys insectifera Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Large Cuttlefish - Camouflage - New South Wales - Australia
VT-3034 Large Cuttlefish - Camouflaged as coral New South Wales, Australia Valerie & Ron Taylor Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Orchid Mantis
PPG-23 Orchid Mantis - juvenile Hymenopus coronatus Pascal Goetgheluck Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Bittern - hiding in reeds
RES-160 BITTERN - at nest, sky pointing hidden in reeds Botaurus stellaris George Reszeter Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Bay Pipefish In Eelgrass (shallow water), San Francisco Bay, California, USA
KEL-990 Bay Pipefish In Eelgrass (shallow water), San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Syngnathus leptorhynchus Ken Lucas Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Octopus - A master of camouflage, this large octopus blends into its surroundings perfectly Komodo Is. Marine Park
VT-8393 Octopus - A master of camouflage, this large octopus blends into its surroundings perfectly Komodo Is. Marine Park

Octopus - Common. Found all along the rocky reefs of NSW Sydney. Australia
VT-8391 Common Sydney OCTOPUS - endemic Sydney. Australia. Octopus tetricus Found all along the rocky reefs of NSW. Females eat the male after mating

Octapus - A master of camouflage, this large octopus pretending to be a rockblends into its surroundings perfectly
VT-8390 Octopus - A master of camouflage, this large octopus pretending to be a rockblends into its surroundings perfectly Jervis Bay, NSW. Australia Octopus sp

Ornamental crab. these fascinating crabs grow sponges, algae and corals on their shell as a disguise to confuse
VT-8742 Ornamental crab.- these fascinating crabs grow sponges, algae and corals on their shell as a disguise to confuse preditors

Dendronephthya Crab - A master of diguise this tiny crab is only found living on soft coral which it matches perfectly
VT-8744 Dendronephthya Crab - A master of diguise this tiny crab is only found living on soft coral which it matches perfectly Papua New Guinea

Tropical Day Octopus - is a camouflage expert, it lays up to 6000 000 eggs which hatch into tiny planktonic young
VT-8389 Tropical Day OCTOPUS Great Barrier Reef. Australia. Octopus cyanea It iss a camouflage expert, it lays up to 6000 000 eggs which hatch into tiny planktonic young

Lichen Spider - camouflaged on bark Erawan Nationalpark, Thailand
MAR-385 Lichen Spider - camouflaged on bark Erawan National park, Thailand Sparassidae Thomas Marent Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

A spider - a nocturnal web-maker that during the day uses its turreted abdomen to camouflage itself as a broken twig
AUS-446 A spider - a nocturnal web-maker that during the day uses its turreted abdomen to camouflage itself as a broken twig

Ant-mimicking spider resembling Camponotus ant at rest on foliage. Grahamstown, Eastern Caqpe, South Africa
ASW-4542 Ant-mimicking spider resembling Camponotus ant at rest on foliage Grahamstown, Eastern Caqpe, South Africa Salticidae Alan J. S

Stargazer - the worm like lure is used as a decoy to attract fish into striking distance
VT-8768 Stargazer - the worm like lure is used as a decoy to attract fish into striking distance. Stargazers have a venomous spine that can be fatal to humans. Papua New Guinea Uranoscopus sp

Ghost Pipefish - Pretending to be a piece of weed. Milne Bay Papua New Guinea, Indo Pacific PIP-011
VT-8552 Ghost Pipe Fish - Pretending to be a piece of weed. Milne Bay Papua New Guinea, Indo Pacific Solenostomus cyanopterus Valerie & Ron Taylor Please note that prints are for personal display

Ghost Pipe fish - Floating like a stick or piece of weed. Ambon, Indonesia, Indo Pacific PIP-008
VT-8549 Ghost Pipe fish - Floating like a stick or piece of weed. Ambon, Indonesia, Indo Pacific Solenostomus cyanopterus Valerie & Ron Taylor Please note that prints are for personal display

Robust Ghost Pipefish - A mated pair pretending to be old ribbon weed. Ambon, Indonesia, Indo Pacific. PIP-009
VT-8550 Robust Ghost Pipefish - A mated pair pretending to be old ribbon weed. Ambon, Indonesia, Indo Pacific. Solenostomus cyanopterus Valerie & Ron Taylor Please note that prints are for personal

Weedy Sea Dragon - Endemic to south eastern Australia. Grows to 45 cm in length. Sydney Harbour, Sydney
VT-8508 Weedy SEADRAGON - Endemic to south eastern Australia Sydney Harbour, Sydney. Australia Phyllopteryx taeniolatus Grows to 45 cm in length

Righteye Flounder - These fish have amazing camouflage, almost invisible against the sand. Secret Bay, Bali
VT-8454 Righteye FLOUNDER - camouflaged on seabed Secret Bay, Bali. Indonesia These fish have amazing camouflage, almost invisible against the sand. Fm

Ghost Crab - perfect mimickry of a white ghost crab on white sandy beach. Frontal portrait - Cape Range National Park
SAS-1242 Ghost Crab - perfect mimickry of a white ghost crab on white sandy beach. Cape Range National Park, Western Australia

Bat Flower / Tiger Whisker South East Asia
ROG-11970 Bat Flower / Tiger Whisker China, South East Asia. Tacca chantrieri Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

Bee orchid
ROG-11450 Bee orchid - Insect mimic UK Ophrys apifera Found: Grassland; open scrub and dunes Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Beetle Daisy Showing mimic eyes to attract Bee-fly pollinator, Namaqualand, South Africa
PS-9411 Beetle Daisy - Showing mimic eyes to attract Bee-fly pollinator Namaqualand, South Africa Gorteria diffusa Peter Steyn Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Eyed Hawk Moth - female on Sallow (food plant) - showing flash / warning colouration on eye-spots
LB-1833 Eyed HAWK MOTH - female on Sallow (food plant) showing flash / warning colouration on eye-spots Smerinthus ocellata Ian Beames Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Turbot Fish Underwater - camouflaged by seabed
LA-786 Turbot Fish - Underwater - camouflaged by seabed Psetta maxima Distribution: E North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea Jean Michel Labat Please note that prints are for personal display

Sargassum Fish KEL 852 Camouflage resembles Seaweed. Caribbean Sea. Histrio histrio © Ken Lucas / ARDEA LONDON
KEL-852 Sargassum Fish Camouflage resembles Seaweed. Caribbean Sea. Histrio histrio Ken Lucas Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

A longicorn beetle - a harmless beetle that evades its enemies by mimicking the coloration of dangerous wasps
AUS-436 A longicorn beetle - a harmless beetle that evades its enemies by mimicking the coloration of dangerous wasps. Australia Hesthesis ferruginea Densey Clyne / Auscape / ardea.com Auscape Please

A harmless fly (family Syrphidae) that evades its enemies by mimicking the coloration of dangerous wasps
AUS-435 A harmless fly (family Syrphidae) that evades its enemies by mimicking the coloration of dangerous wasps. Australia Densey Clyne / Auscape / ardea.com Auscape Please note that prints are for

An ant-mimicking bug - found in weaver ants territory; juvenile
AUS-398 An ant-mimicking bug - found in weaver ants territory; juvenile. Tropical Australia Densey Clyne / Auscape / ardea.com Order

Leafy Seadragon Rapid Bay, South Australia SND00808
AUS-1742 Leafy Seadragon Rapid Bay, South Australia Phycoduruseques Becca Saunders / Auscape / ardea.com Auscape Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

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"Mimicry: Nature's Master of Disguise" In the depths of Rapid Bay, South Australia, a Leafy Seadragon gracefully glides through the water. Its brilliant camouflage renders it invisible to both predators and prey, as they fail to recognize it as a fish. This mesmerizing creature is just one example of nature's remarkable mimicry. Perched delicately on an orchid in Hymenopus coronatus, an Orchid Mantis showcases its incredible ability to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Its body mimics the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of the flower petals, fooling unsuspecting insects into becoming its next meal. Venturing further into South Australian waters, we encounter another master of disguise - the Sea Horse or Leafy Seadragon from the Syngnathidae family. Endemic to this region, these enchanting creatures perfectly imitate swaying seaweed with their leaf-like appendages, ensuring their survival amidst coral reefs. Traveling across continents to Chios, Greece, we stumble upon a captivating Bee Orchid. With astonishing precision, this flower mimics a female bee in appearance and scent to attract male bees for pollination purposes, and is truly nature's artistry at work. Butterflies take center stage when it comes to showcasing mimicry among species. Their wings adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant hues serve as disguises that confuse potential predators or even lure them away from vulnerable areas. Hidden amongst reeds stands the Bittern Bird RES 155 in Botaurus stellaris; its cryptic plumage blending flawlessly with its marshy habitat. This elusive bird relies on mimicry for survival by remaining unseen by both prey and predators alike. The Larval case of bagworms constructed meticulously using plant fragments demonstrates yet another form found in nature. These clever caterpillars create protective cases that resemble twigs or leaves while they undergo metamorphosis, ensuring their safety until they emerge as beautiful moths.