aposematic

American  

[ap-uh-suh-mat-ik] / ˌæp ə səˈmæt ɪk /

adjective

Zoology.

1. colored or constructed in a way that indicates special capabilities for defense.

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aposematic British  

/ ˌæpəsɪˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. (of the coloration of certain distasteful or poisonous animals) characterized by bright conspicuous markings, which predators recognize and learn to avoid; warning

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Other Word Forms

• aposematically adverb

Etymology

Origin of aposematic

First recorded in 1885–90; apo- + sematic

Example Sentences

Most prior research on how predators perceive aposematic or conspicuously colorful displays has revolved around carnivorous birds.

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2023

Mimicry and camouflage are aposematic defense mechanisms that give these animals a survival advantage over others that do not have these mechanisms.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

This type of defensive mechanism is called aposematic coloration, or warning coloration.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

They also share a variety of other convergent traits, from small body size to aposematic coloration and diurnal activity, despite being found in places as disparate as Cuba, Australia, South America, and Madagascar.

From Scientific American • Aug. 21, 2012

Warning or aposematic colours, together with the qualities they indicate, depend, as a rule, for their very existence upon the abundance of palatable food supplied by the animals with cryptic colouring.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various