The relationships between predator and prey have played a major role into how these organisms survive and live. Many organisms have a common enemy and have developed corresponding survival tactics to these agitators. Some common examples include the variety of colors on tortoise shells, butterflies, lizards, and etc. The colors of these creatures are often depicted in a way that would help suit them for survival and increase their likelihood of reproduction. But how much of a role does these corresponding relationships actually play? One can say that it really pushed the development of hereditary phenotypes. I’m sure that the probability of tortoise shells being multicolored to match their corresponding environment since its existence were not very high. Their had to be a reason why these shells started changing colors to match the environment. This can also be applied to butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, etc. It is a defensive mechanism developed over time, a product of evolution against the enemy. But in hindsight, the predators would and should have developed a form of catching their prey. Physical or new behavioral attributes. Again it’s because of the need to survive and reproduce, a product of evolution developed against the prey.

In a fairly recent article, Scientists Discover An Ancient Predator Prey Relationship, it explains the recent discovery of the predator prey relationship between two ancient species. The article went in depth about how the hederellid, which happens to be at least 380 million years old, react to attacks by a yet unknown predator. These colonial extinct animals are known to make tube-like skeletons which were preyed on by the unknown predators. The tube-like skeletons were being drilled through by these assailants. Recent evidence has showed that the hederellid reacted to these attacks by patching the aforementioned holes which were secreted by internal tissues. The scientists went about discovering this by the usage of an optical microscope and the examination from about 350 hederellid colonies from paleontological collections. The predators attacked from the top as signified by the incomplete drilling holes and damaged the living hederellid. The resulting responses ended up being patch like repair to the holes. It was said to be one of the earliest examples of selective predation and the subsequent development of defense for it.

The predator and prey relationship does play a big role in the development of these organisms and many physical and behavioral attributes may be given credit to it. In fact, it probably increased the development of these attributes. In the case of this particular article, the hederellid developed a defense mechanism. In more today examples, the tortoise with its camouflage type shell to blend in with the environment, and insects that look like branches (Indian Walkingstick).

posted by JP21