Biology 2011 JAMB Past Questions - Question 49: The brightly coloured eye spots on the hind wings of a moth are an example of

Correct Answer

B

Explanation

The bright coloured eyespots on the hind wings of a moth mimics the large round eyes of an owl which hunt small animals at night. Warning oraposematic colouration is the possession of bright and conspicuous colours by some animals advertising themselves as poisonous or distasteful and so scares away predators. E.g the bright coloured was is feared because it stings. Cryptic or concealing colouration or crypsis isa colour that enables the animal to blend with the colour of it's immediate environment to avoid being detected by predators. Disruptive colouration is the possession of some patterns (like spots or stripes) on their body surfaces to break up the familiar shapes of their bodies to make them move about undetected. E.g stripes on Zebra spots on Leopard.