/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Aposematism (from Ancient Greek ἀπό apo away, σῆμα sema sign) is a term coined by Edward Bagnall Poulton[1][2] for Alfred Russel Wallace's concept of warning coloration.[3] It describes a family of antipredator adaptations in which a warning signal is associated with the unprofitability of a prey item to potential predators.[4] The unprofitability may consist of any defences which make a prey difficult to eat, such as toxicity, foul taste or smell, sharp spines, or aggressive nature. Aposematism always involves an advertising signal which may take the form of conspicuous animal coloration, sounds, odours[5] or other perceivable characteristics. Aposematic signals are beneficial for both the predator and prey, since both avoid potential harm.