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Description
Seeing how there are *two* All Yesterdays contest going, I've decided to draw an entry for the contest at the "Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs" blog as well ([link] ). See my previous All Yesterdays illustration here: [link]

The subject is Batesian mimicry - this is where a harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful species to discourage predation, such as non-toxic butterflies mimicking toxic species, hoverflies which look like wasp and bees, or caterpillars that look like small snakes.

On top is Schinderhannes bartelsi - an anomalocarid that lived during the Early Devonian at what is now known as Germany. It is a very aggressive predator for its size, often swimming in larges schools. It is known to give a nasty bite and is known to stab at predators with its sharp tail spine. Additionally, its flesh is full of a neurotoxin which it acquires from its prey item. The microbe that produces this neurotoxin is naturally found in the environment and toxin is found at low trace levels in the prey which are eaten by Schinderhannes. But this anomalocarid bioaccumulates this toxin in its body, using it as anti-predator defence - something it loudly advertises with its aposematic (warning) colouration.

The creature on the bottom is a juvenile specimen of Machaeracanthus - an acanthodian which lived alongside Schinderhannes. Unlike adult acanthodians which have long spines that can provide some degree of protection against predators, the juvenile is comparative vulnerable. Instead, its colouration mimics that of the aggressive and toxic Schinderhannes. As well as resembling the anomalocarid in appearance, the juvenile Machaeracanthus also mimic them behaviourally and are often found hiding among schools of hunting Schinderhannes.

As the Machaeracanthus grows, its flamboyant colours fade away and take on the appearance of a more "conventional" acanthodian.

Description
Seeing how there are *two* All Yesterdays contest going, I've decided to draw an entry for the contest at the "Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs" blog as well ([link] ). See my previous All Yesterdays illustration here: [link]

The subject is Batesian mimicry - this is where a harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful species to discourage predation, such as non-toxic butterflies mimicking toxic species, hoverflies which look like wasp and bees, or caterpillars that look like small snakes.

On top is Schinderhannes bartelsi - an anomalocarid that lived during the Early Devonian at what is now known as Germany. It is a very aggressive predator for its size, often swimming in larges schools. It is known to give a nasty bite and is known to stab at predators with its sharp tail spine. Additionally, its flesh is full of a neurotoxin which it acquires from its prey item. The microbe that produces this neurotoxin is naturally found in the environment and toxin is found at low trace levels in the prey which are eaten by Schinderhannes. But this anomalocarid bioaccumulates this toxin in its body, using it as anti-predator defence - something it loudly advertises with its aposematic (warning) colouration.

The creature on the bottom is a juvenile specimen of Machaeracanthus - an acanthodian which lived alongside Schinderhannes. Unlike adult acanthodians which have long spines that can provide some degree of protection against predators, the juvenile is comparative vulnerable. Instead, its colouration mimics that of the aggressive and toxic Schinderhannes. As well as resembling the anomalocarid in appearance, the juvenile Machaeracanthus also mimic them behaviourally and are often found hiding among schools of hunting Schinderhannes.

As the Machaeracanthus grows, its flamboyant colours fade away and take on the appearance of a more "conventional" acanthodian.