Chambers wrote:
> Darren New wrote:
>> Warp wrote:
>>>   AFAIK the bright colors work as a warning signal. Predators learn to
>>> distinguish the poisonous prey by their color.
>>
>> This clearly works poorly if the prey is so poisonous they kill the 
>> predator with one meal.
> 
> You're assuming that for this to be an effective evolutionary strategy 
> (there's that entanglement with 'cause', again), it has to be effective 
> for individuals.
> 
> An evolutionary strategy can be effective for groups, while failing 
> horribly for individuals.

Well, I'm talking about color plus poison. I'm assuming the two are 
independent, since so many species have both.

Of course, it could be that the mutation to be more visible came first and 
only the distasteful individual survived that.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   I ordered stamps from Zazzle that read "Place Stamp Here".

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