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aposematic
(redirected from Aposematism)

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
aposematic [ˌæpəsɪˈmætɪk]
adj
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (of the coloration of certain distasteful or poisonous animals) characterized by bright conspicuous markings, which predators recognize and learn to avoid; warning
[from apo- + Greek sēma sign]


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For example, among infrahumans, peak shift has been invoked as a mechanism underlying the evolution of aposematism (warning coloration) among prey (Gamberale & Tullberg, 1996; Gamberale-Stille & Tullberg, 1999; Leimar, Enquist, & Sillen-Tullberg, 1986), the sexual selection among birds for elaborately plumaged males (Weary, Guilford, & Weisman, 1993), and the preference for supernormal stimuli displayed by many species (Ghirlanda & Enquist, 1998, 1999, 2003; Staddon, 1975).
Many functions have been proposed for this secretion, such as camouflage, alarm signal, pheromone, aposematism (use of color patterns by prey animals to signal their distastefulness to predators), bile excretion, predator deterrent, and cue of danger (Johnson & Willows 1999).
The experiments show that aposematism probably evolved first in groups of unpalatable prey, but that other species that later adopt similar markings may not benefit from group living, the authors conclude.
 
 
 
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