In a new study, Carl Leffler-Henry, Changku Kang and Thomas Sherratt analyzed
Aposematism or warning coloration - inbehavioral biology, the bright coloration of animals, with which they signal to potential predators not only their presence, but also their inedibility and/or defense. It is the opposite of camouflage.
According to scientists, there is an “evolutionaryparadox of aposematism" - at an early stage of evolution, any individual that differs from the camouflage one is instantly eaten by a predator, that is, there is an area of irresistible negative selection. In other words, it is unclear how animals with aposematism could have evolved. Animals that stand out tend to be caught and eaten first, preventing even more vibrant colors from appearing.
New research shows that evolutionaposematism was probably (and still is) a step-by-step process. For example, the ancestors of Phyllobates terribilis, the golden arrow frog, were not very bright at first, and then their color became increasingly rich and noticeable. This is part of the signaling mechanism to predators. The frogs then developed other deterrents, such as unpleasant-tasting warts or deadly poison. Then the color became even more noticeable and so on, increasing.
As a result, today neon bright colorsP. terribilis does not attract predators, but rather warns them of serious risks associated with being attacked or eaten. Simply touching the skin of such a frog can lead to serious consequences such as swelling, nausea and paralysis.
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Cover photo: Brian Gratwicke