10.5061/DRYAD.T34D3
Akcali, Christopher K.
University of North Carolina
Pfennig, David W.
University of North Carolina
Data from: Geographic variation in mimetic precision among different
species of coral snake mimics
Dryad
dataset
2017
Micrurus
Batesian mimicry
geographic variation
Lampropeltis
imprecise mimicry
Cemophora
2017-04-07T12:51:56Z
2017-04-07T12:51:56Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13094
382445 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Batesian mimicry is widespread, but whether and why different species of
mimics vary geographically in resemblance to their model is unclear. We
characterized geographic variation in mimetic precision among four
Batesian mimics of coral snakes. Each mimic occurs where its model is
abundant (i.e., in “deep sympatry”), rare (i.e., at the sympatry/allopatry
boundary or “edge sympatry”), and absent (i.e., in allopatry). Geographic
variation in mimetic precision was qualitatively different among these
mimics. In one mimic, the most precise individuals occurred in edge
sympatry; in another, they occurred in deep sympatry; in the third, they
occurred in allopatry; and in the fourth, precise mimics were not
concentrated anywhere throughout their range. Mimicry was less precise in
allopatry than in sympatry in only two mimics. We present several
non-mutually exclusive hypotheses for these patterns. Generally, examining
geographic variation in mimetic precision—within and among different
mimics—offers novel insights into the causes and consequences of mimicry.
Table S1Phenotypic and locality data for museum specimens of Micrurus
fulvius, Micrurus tener, Lampropeltis elapsoides, Lampropeltis gentilis,
Cemophora coccinea, and Cemophora lineri.
Southeastern United States
Southcentral United States