klinotaxis

[ klahy-nuh-tak-sis ]

nounBiology.
  1. a wavering side-to-side motion of the head occurring as an organism moves forward in response to a source of stimulation, caused by the alternating reaction of sensory receptors on either side of the body.

Origin of klinotaxis

1
1935–40; <Greek klī́n(ein) to cause to lean (cf. clino-) + -o- + -taxis

Words Nearby klinotaxis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023