Adaptive Value

What is adaptive value?
The study of adaptive value examines a given trait or behavior and determines its evolutionary advantage to the organism or species.

Adaptive value in an Indo-Malayan octopus
The mimic octopus found in Indo-Malayan archipelago switches between impersonating different poisonous or distasteful animals to prevent predation. It has been known to impersonate lionfish, flatfish and sea snake, all creatures that prey on its predators. Furthermore, the octopus can tailor its response to suit the particular situation. As an example, sea- snake mimicry was observed only during an attack by the damselfish (sea snakes prey on damselfish) [1]. Although this model assumes that the mimic octopus is a Batesian mimic not much is known about its toxicity due to its recent discovery [7]. However, since it employs predator- avoidance behavior and camouflage often, it is possible that it is non-toxic to a lot of potential predators.

An octopus mimicking the poisonous seasnake (left) compared to the real thing (right)

Mating strategy and increased reproductive success in smaller cuttlefish males:

In giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) dynamic sexual mimicry has led to the evolution of an alternative mating strategy. A study shows that smaller males can switch between male and female form to trick the larger males guarding the females and thus gain access to females. The larger males never attacked these males. These males mimicking the female form would switch to their male form for courtship displays, once they passed through the guarding males. These courtship displays often led to successful mating [2] (science article 2 p433). Mimicry increases the reproductive success of the smaller males in the face of extreme competition from larger males. In turn, the reproductive success of the mimicking males also may be a driving force behind the evolution of more accurate mimickery.