Mimicry

Mimicry is when something copies what another thing does. It can be either animals or people.

For example, sometimes animals pretend to be something they aren't in order to stay safe from predators. A butterfly might look like a leaf or a stick, or a chameleon might change color to match the leaves or branches of a tree, so that a predator won't easily spot it.

People also do mimicry. For example, you might laugh or smile when someone else is laughing or smiling, even if you don't feel happy yourself. That's called 'mirroring', because you're copying the other person's behavior.