Review Article

Colors and Some Morphological Traits as Defensive Mechanisms in Anurans

Table 3

Characteristics, benefits acquired, and constraints involved in the evolution of different classes of anuran coloration.

Coloration classesMain characteristicBenefits acquiredEvolutionary constraints involved

Cryptic colorationBackground matchingDetection avoidance (by prey and predators)Predator and prey search image

Aposematic colorationBackground contrastingPredator avoidancePredator learning, presence of harmful defenses*, sexual selection
Reproductive success

Deceptive colorationDissuasive colorationPredator avoidance Predator search image, sexual selection
Reproductive success

be an exception in cases of Browerian and Batesian mimicry.