In Batesian mimicry, the mimicry features are not always as convincing as the theory predicts. In fact, inaccurate mimicry due to only superficial model similarities is common and taxonomically widespread. ”Choice trade-off hypothesis” propose a life history trade-off between a precise mimicry trait and one or more important biological functions. Here, we use a precise myrmecomorphic (ant-mimetic) jumping spider species to Milmarachne Smaragdinainvestigates how myrmecomorphic modifications to body shape affect internal anatomy in potentially functionally limiting ways. Specifically, we used X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) to investigate how the spider’s retracted anterior body, which mimics an ant’s head and thorax, affects the central nervous system (CNS) and the size of its venom glands. We quantified how much we give. Although there were no significant differences in venom gland volume compared to whole body mass, the central nervous system of ant-mimetic jumping spiders is significantly smaller than that of their relatively closely related non-mimetic jumping spiders, leading to poor imitation accuracy. and the size of neuroanatomical structures,” as explained inChoice trade-off hypothesis”. Our exploratory evidence suggests that “Choice trade-off hypothesis”
J. Kelly, M.B., Pena-Gonçalves, V., Wilmot, N.J., McLean, DJ, Black, J.R., Wolff, J.O., and Haberstein, Mayne (2024). Small brain: Tissue placement in the central nervous system of ant-mimetic spiders is restricted by body shape. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 532(11), e25680. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25680
