Alternatively, mimicry may
have originally evolved as a result of selection for predator
deterrence, but may now also be used in mate choice.
There is evidence for sexual selection on song repertoire
in various birds , and an analogous situation might occur in the mimic octopus if
females prefer males with large impersonation repertoires.
However, at present there is no evidence to support this
possibility: both sexes show mimicry behaviour, all
animals were well separated (50^100 m apart) and all
displays were observed in the absence of conspecifics