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Data from: Larger frogs are better mimics but are more risk-averse in a non-toxic poison frog

McEwen, Brendan1; Yeager, Justin2; Veneat, Ana1; Barnett, James3

Published Sep 22, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.905qfttxx

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Sep 22, 2025 version files 2.44 GB
Sep 22, 2025 version files 2.44 GB

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Abstract

Aposematic species signal to potential predators with salient and recognisable colouration. Predators learn to associate these warning signals with secondary defences (e.g., toxins) and will subsequently avoid attacking aposematic prey. Warning signals can therefore reduce the need to hide and/or flee and alleviate some of the energetic/opportunity costs of predator avoidance. Consequently, aposematic species are frequently active and bold in behaviour. Batesian mimics replicate the colours, and often the behaviour, of aposematic species and may benefit from a similar reduction in predation risk and energetic/opportunity costs. Allobates zaparo (Aromobatidae) is a non-toxic Batesian mimic of the chemically defended poison frog *Ameerega bilinguis *(Dendrobatidae). However, the efficacy of mimicry appears to change throughout ontogeny as Al. zaparo develops from a seemingly cryptic juvenile to the mimetic adult. We examined how morphological mimicry (i.e., colour) and the propensity to explore a novel environment (i.e., boldness) changed throughout ontogeny. We predicted that mimicry would improve with increasing size and that better mimics would engage in more exploratory behaviour. We found that larger mimics more closely matched their model however they were less likely to be active than were smaller frogs. These data suggest that larger size, and more accurate mimicry, do not necessarily correspond to increases in behavioural boldness. This result may arise from limitations in Batesian mimicry but factors including foraging requirements or social/reproductive behaviour cannot be discounted. More research is needed to understand the relationship between behaviour, colour, body size, and maturity in these frogs and across Batesian mimics more widely.