Phagomimicry

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/phagomimicry

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Various species, including Aplysia californica, Dolabella auricularia, and Bursatella leachii
2. What is the diet?Herbivorous, feeding predominantly on various species of algae and seagrasses
3. How do sea hares make the fake food smell?They use special glands that release opaline, which contains amino acids like alanine, glycine, and serine. These chemicals smell very appealing to predators.
4. Why do sea hares use ink in this trick?The ink makes a smokescreen that hides the hare and confuses the predator’s sight. It helps the hare escape while the predator is busy chasing the chemical spray.

Phagomimicry: A defensive strategy involving the chemical mimicry of food to deceive and deter predators.
Opaline Gland: A specialized gland in sea hares that secretes a chemical mixture, often rich in amino acids, used in defense.
Chemical Ecology: The study of the role of chemical substances and signals in the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Predator-Prey Dynamics: The ecological interactions between predators and their prey, influencing population sizes and evolutionary adaptations.