mimicry

mimicry
    n 1: the act of mimicking; imitative behavior [syn: {apery},
         {mimicry}]
    2: the resemblance of an animal species to another species or to
       natural objects; provides concealment and protection from
       predators
    

Mimicry \Mim"ic*ry\, n.
   1. The act or practice of one who mimics; ludicrous imitation
      for sport or ridicule.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Biol.) Protective resemblance; the resemblance which
      certain animals and plants exhibit to other animals and
      plants or to the natural objects among which they live, --
      a characteristic which serves as their chief means of
      protection against enemies; imitation; mimesis; mimetism.
      [1913 Webster]
    

53 Moby Thesaurus words for "mimicry":
      acting, aggressive mimicry, apery, aping, buffoonery, business,
      caricature, characterization, cryptic mimicry, dumb show,
      embodiment, enacting, enactment, gag, ham, hammy acting, hoke,
      hokum, imitation, impersonation, incarnation, masquerade, mimesis,
      mimicking, miming, mock, mockery, mummery, overacting, pantomime,
      pantomiming, parody, parrotry, patter, performance, performing,
      personation, personification, playacting, playing, playing possum,
      portrayal, posing, projection, protective coloration,
      representation, slapstick, stage business, stage directions,
      stage presence, stunt, synaposematic mimicry, taking a role