Top Tweets for #defensivebehavior

8 months ago

The #honeybadger #Mellivora #capensis (#Musteloidea, #Caniformia) exhibits unusual #defensivebehavior that even deters large predators from attacking it. #Juvenile #cheetahs #Acinonyx #jubatus (#Felinae, #Feliformia) #mimic the typical appearance of the honey badger, specifically by developing a light-colored patch of greyish #fur on their back that, as with the honey badger, contrasts sharply with the normal fur on their sides and bellies. This #mimicry of a dangerous or particularly defensive animal to protect oneself from attack is known as #protectivemimicry. This context was for example reported in Eaton, R. L. (1976). Mimicry is distinct from mimesis. The latter involves imitating not the appearance or behavior of another animal, but rather its environment. Mimesis can therefore also be described as visual (or tactile) #camouflage. Protective mimicry arose through selective pressure and #evolution. Such selective pressure persists when the imitated animal actually inhabits the same environment. Mimicry is only beneficial if potential predators have had the opportunity to make negative #experiences with the #imitated #animal. This condition is met in the case of the honey badger, which is mimicked by cheetah #cubs. It is widespread in large parts of Africa and even occurs in parts of Asia. Cheetahs and honey badgers thus share their habitats, at least in sub-Saharan #Africa. In #Asia, only small, critically endangered remnant populations of cheetahs remained. The honey badger is similar in size and appearance to a European badger, but is not closest related to it within the Mustelidae. This solitary species feeds #predatorily on mostly small vertebrates such as rodents, lizards, frogs, or bird eggs. It also ventures to prey on the young of larger animals. Honey badgers are often #crepuscular and #nocturnal, remaining hidden in underground burrows during the day. Cheetahs, on the other hand, are #diurnal, so there is little overlap in their activity patterns. However, it is also much more important that the enemies of cheetahs, especially their cubs, are well aware of the honey badger and associate it with its formidable #defenses. This is the case with the more nocturnal #lions, #leopards, or #hyenas. The honey badger defends itself fiercely, even against larger animals. Its extremely #thickskin effectively resists bites. Its own bites, combined with its sharp claws, can inflict serious injuries on #attackers. Furthermore, the animal can secrete a foul-smelling defensive fluid from its anal glands. A key factor in ensuring that leopards or lions who encounter a honey badger during their nocturnal forays have a negative memory of it is the honey badger's #aggressive nature, which can extend even to significantly larger animals. If one of these large, nocturnal predators encounters a leopard cub in low-light conditions, it may, under certain circumstances, leave it alone, namely if the cub's resemblance to the honey badger appears too striking. This is despite the fact that the cheetah cub would otherwise be an easy #prey. A #video compilation to this topic from National Geographic (2026) is linked below. My images I've included with this article are no photographs, but #illustrations created with #AI #assistance. I appreciate any form of support for my scientific work and science communication. Life can be hard. I would be very happy if you would like to buy me a coffee: https://t.co/Jl19gKQGs3 © #StefanFWirth Berlin January 2026 References Video National Geographic, Cheetahs Up Close (2026): https://t.co/hot0iBpNTp Eaton, R. L (1976). Evolution. 30 (4): 853–856. doi:10.2307/2407827. #Pictures: © Stefan F. Wirth, Berlin January 2026, AI assisted illustrations following my storyboard sketches, then hand edited, no photos. 1) honey badger in its environment 2) younger juvenile cheetah with a bright fur similar to a honey badger 3) older juvenile cheetah with its mother and remnants of the bright fur

wirthstef's tweet photo. The #honeybadger #Mellivora #capensis (#Musteloidea, #Caniformia) exhibits unusual #defensivebehavior that even deters large predators from attacking it. #Juvenile #cheetahs #Acinonyx #jubatus (#Felinae, #Feliformia) #mimic the typical appearance of the honey badger, specifically by developing a light-colored patch of greyish #fur on their back that, as with the honey badger, contrasts sharply with the normal fur on their sides and bellies. This #mimicry of a dangerous or particularly defensive animal to protect oneself from attack is known as #protectivemimicry.
This context was for example reported in Eaton, R. L. (1976).

Mimicry is distinct from mimesis. The latter involves imitating not the appearance or behavior of another animal, but rather its environment. Mimesis can therefore also be described as visual (or tactile) #camouflage.

Protective mimicry arose through selective pressure and #evolution. Such selective pressure persists when the imitated animal actually inhabits the same environment. Mimicry is only beneficial if potential predators have had the opportunity to make negative #experiences with the #imitated #animal. This condition is met in the case of the honey badger, which is mimicked by cheetah #cubs. It is widespread in large parts of Africa and even occurs in parts of Asia. Cheetahs and honey badgers thus share their habitats, at least in sub-Saharan #Africa. In #Asia, only small, critically endangered remnant populations of cheetahs remained.

The honey badger is similar in size and appearance to a European badger, but is not closest related to it within the Mustelidae. This solitary species feeds #predatorily on mostly small vertebrates such as rodents, lizards, frogs, or bird eggs. It also ventures to prey on the young of larger animals. Honey badgers are often #crepuscular and #nocturnal, remaining hidden in underground burrows during the day. Cheetahs, on the other hand, are #diurnal, so there is little overlap in their activity patterns. However, it is also much more important that the enemies of cheetahs, especially their cubs, are well aware of the honey badger and associate it with its formidable #defenses. This is the case with the more nocturnal #lions, #leopards, or #hyenas.

The honey badger defends itself fiercely, even against larger animals. Its extremely #thickskin effectively resists bites. Its own bites, combined with its sharp claws, can inflict serious injuries on #attackers. Furthermore, the animal can secrete a foul-smelling defensive fluid from its anal glands. A key factor in ensuring that leopards or lions who encounter a honey badger during their nocturnal forays have a negative memory of it is the honey badger's #aggressive nature, which can extend even to significantly larger animals. If one of these large, nocturnal predators encounters a leopard cub in low-light conditions, it may, under certain circumstances, leave it alone, namely if the cub's resemblance to the honey badger appears too striking. This is despite the fact that the cheetah cub would otherwise be an easy #prey.

A #video compilation to this topic from National Geographic (2026) is linked below.

My images I've included with this article are no photographs, but #illustrations created with #AI #assistance.

I appreciate any form of support for my scientific work and science communication. Life can be hard. I would be very happy if you would like to buy me a coffee: https://t.co/Jl19gKQGs3

© #StefanFWirth Berlin January 2026

References

Video National Geographic, Cheetahs Up Close (2026):
https://t.co/hot0iBpNTp

Eaton, R. L (1976). Evolution. 30 (4): 853–856. doi:10.2307/2407827.

#Pictures:
© Stefan F. Wirth, Berlin January 2026, AI assisted illustrations following my storyboard sketches, then hand edited, no photos.
1) honey badger in its environment
2) younger juvenile cheetah with a bright fur similar to a honey badger
3) older juvenile cheetah with its mother and remnants of the bright fur

National Geographic

@NatGeo

8 months ago

Think you can tell the difference between a cheetah cub and a honey badger? It might be harder than you'd expect... #CheetahsUpClose with @bertiegregory is now streaming on @DisneyPlus and @hulu.