Based on color patterns and behavioral similarities, venomous coral snake Micrurus corallinus (Elapidae) may act as a model for two polymorphic species, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Dipsadidae) and Micrurus decoratus (Elapidae). Plasticine replicas were used to investigate the aposematism of these coloration patterns and whether these species may be part of mimetic complexes in two Atlantic Forest localities in Southeast Brazil. Coral replicas were more avoided when set upon a white background, evincing that the pattern may act aposematically in contrast with light substrates. Birds attacked all four patterns equally during the mimicry experiments. Birds of prey, known to be effective in predating snakes, are quite abundant in the study areas, which may have led to this lack of avoidance. Accordingly, they predated more adult‐sized replicas, which could be more dangerous. Interestingly, opossum avoided the Micrurus corallinus and Erythrolamprus aesculapii replicas that resembled the model. This suggests that opportunistic predators, as the opossum may be important selective agents in mimicry complexes.

中文翻译：

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成为一条亮蛇：在新热带森林中测试放气和模仿

根据颜色模式和行为相似性，有毒的珊瑚蛇Micrurus Coralinus（Elapidae）可以作为两个多态物种Erythrolamprus aesculapii（Dipsadidae）和Micrurus decoratus的模型（E科）橡皮泥复制品用于调查这些着色图案的止血作用，以及这些物种是否可能是巴西东南部两个大西洋森林地区的模拟复合物的一部分。当放置在白色背景上时，可避免使用珊瑚复制品，这表明该图案与轻质底物相比可能在姿态上起作用。在模仿实验中，鸟类平均攻击了所有四个模式。在研究区域中，已知可以有效捕食蛇的猛禽非常多，这可能导致这种回避的缺乏。因此，他们早于成人大小的复制品，这可能更危险。有趣的是，负鼠避免了米氏珊瑚和七叶树。类似于模型的副本。这表明机会捕食者，因为负鼠可能是模仿复合物中的重要选择剂。