Chapter 11 - Defense and Escape

Abstract

Escape from predation requires interference with a predator's ability to detect or identify an individual as prey or the successful escape of a potential prey once detected. In a heuristic sense, the evolution of escape mechanisms seems obvious. As predator escape is important in the life history of amphibians, reptiles, and animals in general, development of detailed theory on interactions between predator and prey has lagged behind the theory in other areas such as optimal foraging. In nature, predator escape is much more complex because the diversity and abundance of predators is not constant in space or time, and the complement of potential predators changes depending on the life history stage of the prey and numerous other factors. Most amphibians and reptiles employ several different predator-escape mechanisms, often using different ones during different life history stages. Moreover, prey identification can be visual, olfactory, tactile, or a combination of these cues. Preys have evolved many fascinating mechanisms to deceive predators into misidentifying them and consequently leaving them alone, the most striking of which is aposematic coloration of potentially harmful preys and mimicry by palatable preys.