Artificial eyespots on cattle reduce predation by large carnivores.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Radford C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7414152 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Artificial eyespots on cattle reduce predation by large carnivores.
Radford Cameron C McNutt John Weldon JW Rogers Tracey T Maslen Ben B Jordan Neil N
Communications biology 20200807 1
Eyespots evolved independently in many taxa as anti-predator signals. There remains debate regarding whether eyespots function as diversion targets, predator mimics, conspicuous startling signals, deceptive detection, or a combination. Although eye patterns and gaze modify human behaviour, anti-predator eyespots do not occur naturally in contemporary mammals. Here we show that eyespots painted on cattle rumps were associated with reduced attacks by ambush carnivores (lions and leopards). Cattle ...[more]
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