Aposematism

Quick meaning: Aposematism is a noun meaning (biology, chiefly zoology) An adaptation, especially a form of coloration, that warns off potential predators.

Meaning

(biology, chiefly zoology) An adaptation, especially a form of coloration, that warns off potential predators.

Example Sentences

The co-occurrence of conspicuous coloration and noxious characteristics in many coastal marine species suggests that aposematism is a common predator deterrent in the marine environment.

Detected prey can avoid an attack by way of warning signals (aposematism), for example, bright coloration as a sign of toxicity. […] Aposematisms offer opportunities for 'cheating' species which are not poisonous but show the same color pattern, so-called Batesian mimicry.

First, the selection of "red" as a releaser in courtship and social chasing indicates a secondarily evolved use of aposematic coloring. It is assumed here that aposematism in this and other red-and-black heliconiids, and their correlated development of Müllerian mimicry, occurred in evolution before the development of red as a social releaser.

We focus in this text on animal defences, but aposematism may apply in other groups. Aposematism has thus been variously proposed in plants […] where, for example, conspicuous coloration on the tips of defensitve spines might serve to draw the attention of predators and deter them from attacking. It has been suggested also that aposematism exists in some fungi […]

Word Forms

• aposematisms

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include camouflage, predatorism, homochromy, counteradaptation, homochromia, counterdefense.

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