Female Mimics

Synonyms

Reproductive parasite; She-male; Sneaker

Definition

Female mimics are males of otherwise sexually dimorphic species that resemble females in appearance and behavior.

Introduction

In sexually dimorphic species, some males will look more like females than males when it comes to size, coloration, pheromone signaling, and behavior. Such female mimics are widespread across the animal kingdom; they have been described in beetles, ants, mollusks, crustaceans, and every vertebrate class, among others (Oliveira et al. 2008). Taking up the female appearance can be permanent or temporary. In the majority of cases it is a form of deceit to gain competitive advantages, for example, female mimicry is used as an alternative mating strategy by smaller males who otherwise would not be able to mate. In their disguise, the sneaker male can approach females and avoid agonistic interactions by the larger males and frequently manages to steal copulations.

Alternative Mating Strategies

In species...