What term describes the phenomenon where organisms resemble others to avoid predation?

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The term that describes the phenomenon where organisms resemble others to avoid predation is mimicry. This strategy involves an organism evolving to share visual traits with another species, which can provide it with some form of protection from predators. For instance, a harmless species may mimic the coloration or patterns of a toxic or dangerous species, leading potential predators to avoid it due to the fear of encountering something harmful.

Mimicry can occur in various forms, such as Batesian mimicry, where a non-toxic species imitates the appearance of a toxic one, and Müllerian mimicry, where two or more unpalatable species evolve to resemble each other, reinforcing the avoidance behavior in predators.

While camouflage also serves a purpose in avoiding predation by allowing organisms to blend into their environments, it does not specifically involve resembling another species. Adaptation refers to the overall process through which a species becomes better suited to its environment, which can include various traits not limited to mimicry. Symbiosis describes a close relationship between two species, which may or may not involve one benefiting at the expense of the other, and does not focus on resemblance for predation avoidance. Hence, mimicry is the most accurate term for the phenomenon described.

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