aposematic
Feb. 19th, 2010 07:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordaposematic (ap-uh-suh-MA-tik) - adj., being conspicuous so as to warn of special defenses.
Such as having warning coloration, like brightly colored but bitter-tasting butterflies. Other aposematisms include being stinky or visibly spiky. Note that some otherwise harmless species will then mimic the aposematic ones, like butterflies that look like, but aren't, monarchs. Coined in the late 1880s from Greek roots apo-, away/apart + sēmat-, combinative form of sēma, sign.
---L.
Such as having warning coloration, like brightly colored but bitter-tasting butterflies. Other aposematisms include being stinky or visibly spiky. Note that some otherwise harmless species will then mimic the aposematic ones, like butterflies that look like, but aren't, monarchs. Coined in the late 1880s from Greek roots apo-, away/apart + sēmat-, combinative form of sēma, sign.
---L.
