Global InformationPhagomimicry information
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Phagomimicry is a defensive behaviour of sea hares, in which the animal ejects a mixture of chemicals, which mimic food, and overwhelm the senses of their predator, giving the sea hare a chance to escape.[1][2][3] The typical defence response of the sea hare to a predator is to release two chemicals - ink from the ink gland and opaline from the opaline gland. While ink creates a dark, diffuse cloud in the water which disrupts the sensory perception of the predator by acting as a smokescreen and as a decoy, the opaline, which affects the senses dealing with feeding, causes the predator to instinctively attack the cloud of chemicals as if it were indeed food.[1] This ink is able to mimic food by having a high concentration of amino acids and other compounds that are normally found in food, and the attack behaviour of the predator allows the sea-hares the opportunity to escape.[4]
- ^ a b Kicklighter, Cynthia E.; Shabani, Shkelzen; Johnson, Paul M.; Derby, Charles D. (2005). "Sea Hares Use Novel Antipredatory Chemical Defenses". Current Biology. 15 (6): 549–554. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.01.057. PMID 15797024. S2CID 11562464.
- ^ Shabani, Shkelzen; Yaldiz, Seymanur; Vu, Luan; Derby, Charles D. (2 October 2007). "Acidity enhances the effectiveness of active chemical defensive secretions of sea hares, Aplysia californica, against spiny lobsters, Panulirus interruptus". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 193 (12): 1195–1204. doi:10.1007/s00359-007-0271-5. PMID 17912533. S2CID 529097.
- ^ Nusnbaum, Matthew; Derby, Charles D. (May 2010). "Ink secretion protects sea hares by acting on the olfactory and nonolfactory chemical senses of a predatory fish". Animal Behaviour. 79 (5): 1067–1076. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.01.022. S2CID 53155121.
- ^ NUSNBAUM, MATTHEW; DERBY, CHARLES D. (2010). "Effects of Sea Hare Ink Secretion and Its Escapin-Generated Components on a Variety of Predatory Fishes". Biological Bulletin. 218 (3): 282–292. doi:10.1086/BBLv218n3p282. JSTOR 27822920. PMID 20570851. S2CID 7114843.