Rethinking evolution
Toxic animals do not have natural predators. And, as per conventional zoology many non-toxic animals copy the behaviour of their poisonous neighbours. But this is not so in case of non-toxic species of poison frog (A. zaparo) in Ecuador. This frog mimics the less toxic of two local species to get better protection from predators. The two toxic neighbours of the A. zaparo, E. bilinguis and E.parvulus share a similar warning sign: a bright red back. But the less toxic of the two, Epipedobates bilinguis , also has yellow markings on its upper limbs and thighs. When the Allobates zaparo shares habitat with one of these toxic frogs species, it imitates the behaviour of its venomous neighbour. But in areas where all three species live, the non-toxic species also tends to mimic its less toxic neighbour. Besides, the bright red mark, it also has yellow markings on its limbs. This was reported in a recent study by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, USA. According to the scientists, the A. zaparo's mimicking not only accords it protection from predators which avoid creatures resembling the most toxic frog, it also secures it against predators that avoid the lesser of the two venomous amphibians. If the frog had just imitated its most toxic neighbour, it would not have been protected against predators that avoid the less toxic amphibians, the researchers say.