Competitive mimicry: synthesis of a neglected class of mimetic relationships

Protective mimicry has been studied extensively for over a century. Mimicry in a competitive context, however, has remained largely neglected. It has been overlooked in mimicry classification schemes, and few systems have been rigorously studied. We define "competitive mimicry" as mimicry that enables access to a defended resource or aids in defense of a resource. We explain how competitive mimicry fits with existing mimicry classification schemes and outline criteria for identifying competitive mimicry systems. For each form of competitive mimicry, we describe the effects of the mimic on the model and receiver, predict the evolutionary dynamics of the system, and present examples. We then identify key directions for the study of competitive mimicry.