Aposematic describes a warning signal, often visual cues like bright colors, used to alert predators of potential danger, especially in insects. It stems from Greek roots meaning 'sign' and 'away.'
Aposematic describes something, often features like bright colors on insects, that serves as a warning or alarm, typically to predators. The term comes from Greek roots meaning 'away' and 'sign,' signifying a sign of danger.
| Back | aposematic /ap-uh-suh-MAT-ik/ |
|---|---|
| Front | adjective Serving as a warning or alarm. [From Greek apo- (away, off) + sematic (serving as a sign of danger), from sema (sign). The term is especially used in case of insects, referring to features such as bright colors or markings to warn a predator that they may be poisonous.] "Winslow departed port in utter disregard of an aposematic forecast, and then stayed overlong in worsening seas before turning back." - Excerpt from opinion of the court (Selya, J.) in DiMillo v. Sheepscot Pilots, Inc. 1989. |
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