Mimicry in Mammals

Mimicry in Mammals
Mimicry is not widely found in birds or mammals. yet, there are a few examples.

The African porcupine may be a model for a large African rodent called the maned rat. the porcupine has sharp, black-and-white quills that are easily seen as it moves about at night. its mimic, the maned rat, is also most active at night. it lacks quills, but has a mane of black fur on its back that it can raise so that it looks like a porcupine.

The rat also may be mimicking another African animal, a weasel-like creature called the zorilla. like the rat, the zorilla is nocturnal. it is also black and white and raises its fur when threatened. the zorilla can spray terrible-smelling fluid, just like a skunk. the rat cannot spray, but when it stiffens its mane, it exposes patches of skin bordered with white. glands in the skin release a strong, foul smell. Few predators tackle either the zorilla or the rat.

People who live in the maned rat’s range believe that the rat’s glands also produce poison. scientists don’t yet know if this is true. if it is, the rat would be considered a müllerian mimic—a harmful animal that resembles other harmful animals.