Aggressive mimicry is a form of mimicry in which predators, parasites, or parasitoids mimic harmless or beneficial signals or models to deceive and exploit their prey or hosts, typically to facilitate feeding or reproduction. This allows the mimic to approach without being detected as a threat, akin to the proverbial "wolf in sheep's clothing." It differs from defensive mimicry (like Batesian or Müllerian, where prey mimic to avoid predators) by being offensive and exploitative. Key examples from nature include: - The anglerfish, which uses a bioluminescent lure resembling a small prey item to attract fish in deep-sea darkness. - Female fireflies of the genus *Photuris*, which mimic the mating signals of other firefly species to lure and eat males. - The zone-tailed hawk, which mimics the flight patterns of harmless turkey vultures to sneak up on small mammals. - Parasitic mussels like those in the genus *Lampsilis*, which mimic small fish to attract larger fish hosts, then release larvae to parasitize them. Molecular mimicry is a related but separate concept, where entities like viruses imitate host molecules to gain access to cells. The term "Peckhamian mimicry" is an infrequently used synonym for aggressive mimicry. While aggressive mimicry is primarily a biological phenomenon observed in non-human animals, recent research extends the concept to human behavior, particularly in hunting strategies and its potential role in cognitive evolution. Traditional views distinguish human disguises (e.g., indigenous hunters dressing as animals or using lures) as self-decoration camouflage rather than true mimicry, because they lack the innate, evolved signaling systems seen in nature. However, ethnographic data from 145 cultures documents 357 examples of humans using deceptive tactics like vocal imitations of animal calls, decoys, or baits to manipulate prey behavior—tactics analogous to aggressive mimicry in animals. These behaviors are argued to have been widespread among hunter-gatherers and may have driven the evolution of key human cognitive traits, such as Theory of Mind (inferring others' mental states), vocal plasticity (leading to language), and empathy (understanding prey perspectives despite exploiting them). This "foraging deception" hypothesis bridges social and ecological brain evolution theories, suggesting early human ambush hunting relied on such mimicry for survival advantages. In modern contexts, the concept is also applied metaphorically to social deception, such as narcissists feigning vulnerability to manipulate others, or "tough guy" mimicry where individuals imitate aggressive personas for protection or exploitation. Thus, while not strictly biological mimicry in humans, aggressive mimicry provides a useful framework for understanding certain deceptive human strategies.