OH, OOBEE DOO I WANNA BE LIKE POO
POOP TO CONQUER
In the natural world, a good way of not being eaten is to look like something that has no nutritional value – or, better still, tastes revolting. This sophisticated form of defence is known as ‘masquerade’. It’s not the same as camouflage – that’s simply hiding, says masquerade expert Dr John Skelhorn at Newcastle University. Take this ‘bird poop frog’ (Theloderma asperum) of Southeast Asia. Its predators, such as snakes and birds, may notice it squatting on a leaf, but
