Summary
Alarm calls, vigilance, flocking and camouflage reduce the risk of being eaten.
In depth
Mechanisms: freezing, fleeing, mobbing, aposematism and group vigilance. Alarm calls may be costly but benefit relatives. Predator inspection and selfish herd effects are also seen.
Defences are primary (preventing detection: camouflage) or secondary (after detection: fleeing, fighting, deimatic displays). Vigilance trades off with feeding time, so group size affects individual vigilance.
Example: the many-eyes effect lets each animal spend less time scanning.
Prey use layered defences that act before, during and after detection. Primary defences prevent detection or attack, including camouflage, hiding, nocturnality and living in groups; secondary defences operate once attacked, such as fleeing, startle displays, distraction, mimicry, spines or toxins.
Vigilance trades off with feeding, so animals in larger groups can spend less time scanning each. Alarm calls warn relatives and others, and mobbing drives predators away. Aposematism advertises toxicity with bright colours.
Example: a hare freezes then bolts; a pufferfish inflates; a monarch butterfly displays warning colours.
Key idea: defences are costly, so animals use them in proportion to risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is Predator Avoidance?
Alarm calls, vigilance, flocking and camouflage reduce the risk of being eaten.
Which area of biology covers Predator Avoidance, and how advanced is it?
Predator Avoidance is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Social Groups, Dominance Hierarchies, Altruism.
Can you give an example of Predator Avoidance?
Meerkat sentinels warn the group of hawks.
What should I learn before Predator Avoidance?
Work through the Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour first, such as Animal Behaviour, Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour, then return to Predator Avoidance. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
What topics are related to Predator Avoidance?
The closest topics to Predator Avoidance are Social Groups, Dominance Hierarchies, Altruism, Pheromones. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Predator Avoidance?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Predator Avoidance. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Predator Avoidance different from Social Groups?
Predator Avoidance: Alarm calls, vigilance, flocking and camouflage reduce the risk of being eaten. Social Groups: Living together can provide protection, hunting benefits and shared care of young. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Predator Avoidance step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Social Groups and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.