Which type of mimicry involves a harmless species that resembles a harmful or poisonous species?

Batesian mimicry is the term that describes the scenario where a harmless species evolves to resemble a harmful or poisonous species. This resemblance provides a survival advantage to the harmless species, as potential predators may avoid them due to their similarity to the harmful model species. The harmless mimics gain protection from predation by duplicating the warning signals, colors, or patterns of the dangerous organisms.

In the case of Mullerian mimicry, both the mimicking and the model species are harmful or poisonous. This form of mimicry reinforces the avoidance behavior in predators, as they learn to stay away from multiple species that share similar warning signals.

Aposematic mimicry refers specifically to the use of bright coloration by poisonous or harmful species to warn predators of their toxicity. Both mimics and models in this scenario are harmful, thus it does not fit the description of a harmless species mimicking a harmful one.

Aggressive mimicry occurs when a predator resembles a harmless or beneficial species to deceive its prey. This form of mimicry does not involve one harmless species mimicking another harmful species but rather focuses on deception for predation.

In summary, Batesian mimicry is the most accurate description for the relationship between a harmless species and a harmful or poisonous species, as