Apotome
- Pronunciation
- /ap-oh-TOH-me/
- Category
- Aposematism
- Singular
- Apotome
- Plural
- Apotomes
Definition
A type of aposematic coloration that appears in some insects, where the bright colors fade or become less distinct with increasing distance from the organism.
Etymology
From Greek 'apo-', meaning 'away', and 'tome', meaning 'cut'.
Example
The apotome of a brightly colored butterfly warns predators about its toxicity, but the intensity of the signal decreases as the distance from the insect increases.
Related Terms
- Aposematic
- Coloration
- Warning signal