aposematism

Definitions

An adaptation, especially a form of coloration, that warns off potential predators.

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“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.”

“For example, both toxicity and coloration may be energetically costly to produce⟳ and maintain⟳, and some theoretical models have⟳ predicted that once a predator has learned that a prey is toxic, prey should reduce⟳ the amount of energy invested in producing an honest signal. This could in turn⟳ make⟳ aposematism evolutionarily stable, as opposed to a constant arms race⟳ between toxicity, coloration and predator perception or toxic resistance”

“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 […]”

CEFR level