The other is deceiving, by which cheaters exploit the biases and loopholes in the sensory systems of other creatures. One is lying, by which cheaters exploit honest messages in communication signals and use them to serve their own interests.
The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars explores the evolution of cheating in the natural world, revealing how dishonesty has given rise to wondrous diversity.īlending cutting-edge science with a wealth of illuminating examples―from microscopic organisms to highly intelligent birds and mammals―Lixing Sun shows how cheating in nature relies on two basic rules. Amphibians and reptiles are inveterate impostors. Possums play possum, feigning death to cheat predators. A natural history of cheating from selfish genes to lying politicians