One Planet News: Get ready for the Master Mimic

A master mimic with a dark secret will soon emerge in the UK

By Annette J Beveridge

Many species rely on mimicry for protection against predation.

Consider the viceroy butterfly which emulates the monarch butterfly (above) or the alligator snapping turtle which has developed a rough, rocky appearance. It even has algae growing on its back - looking just like a rocky bed beneath the water.

Another example is the ant-mimicking jumping spider. This spider cleverly emulates the winding style walk of an ant and raises its two front legs to mimic ant antennae.

Read more: The brain-eating bird

The whole concept of mimicry is for survival and that's exactly what this soon-to-emerge UK species does, which is a cross between a hummingbird, a fly and a narwhal.