aposematic

apo- +‎ sematic

• IPA^(key): /ˌæpə(ʊ)sɪˈmætɪk/, /-sɛ-/
• Rhymes: -ætɪk
• Hyphenation: ap‧o‧se‧mat‧ic

aposematic (comparative more aposematic, superlative most aposematic)

1. (zoology, of a coloration or marking) That serves as a warning to predators, as of toxicity, especially falsely.
   • 1911, “Colours of Animals”, in The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition, volume V, page 732:

     Episematic characters are far less common than aposematic, and these than cryptic; although, as regards the latter comparison, the opposite impression is generally produced from the fact that concealment is so successfully attained.

   • 2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 6:

     Contrasting patterns of red and black are classic aposematic warnings that signal would-be predators to “back off, leave me alone … if you do not, you will regret the consequences.”

• aposematism
• aposematically