warning coloration
Predator-deterring bright hues
Warning coloration is the bright, conspicuous color pattern displayed by poisonous, venomous, or otherwise dangerous animals to signal their threat to potential predators.
The bold markings—often combinations of red, orange, yellow, black, or white—serve as a visual deterrent: The monarch butterfly's warning coloration advertises its toxicity.
Also called aposematic coloration.
Toxic, brightly colored amphibian
- monarch butterflyMigratory orange-winged insect
- waspNarrow-bodied stinging insect
- beeStinging nectar gatherer
- ladybugSpotted red beetle
skunk · coral snake · nudibranch · fire salamander · caterpillar · hornet · yellowjacket · blue-ringed octopus
Producing injected toxins
- poisonousCapable of causing death
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
distastefulness · unpalatability · toxins · alkaloids · chemicals · bitter · repellent · harmful
Adaptive resemblance to another
- Batesian mimicryHarmless copying harmful appearance
- Müllerian mimicryToxic species resembling each other
- mimicOne who copies others
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
resemblance · deceptive · honest · coral snake · viceroy · monarch · convergent evolution · copycat
Thing that discourages action
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- protectionGuarding against harm
- defenseProtection against harm
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
predation · avoidance · startle · intimidation · escape · rejection · hesitation · prey
Clearly visible, attention-grabbing
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
- vividIntensely clear and bright
- strikingNoticeably impressive
- boldCourageous and daring
flashy · noticeable · distinctive · advertisement · signal · pigmentation · pattern · contrast
poison dart frog
Toxic, brightly colored amphibian
- monarch butterflyMigratory orange-winged insect
- waspNarrow-bodied stinging insect
- beeStinging nectar gatherer
ladybug · skunk · coral snake · nudibranch · fire salamander · caterpillar · hornet · yellowjacket · blue-ringed octopus · pufferfish
venomous
Producing injected toxins
- poisonousCapable of causing death
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
noxious · distastefulness · unpalatability · toxins · alkaloids · chemicals · bitter · repellent · harmful · danger
mimicry
Adaptive resemblance to another
- Batesian mimicryHarmless copying harmful appearance
- Müllerian mimicryToxic species resembling each other
- mimicOne who copies others
model · resemblance · deceptive · honest · coral snake · viceroy · monarch · convergent evolution · copycat · impersonation
deterrent
Thing that discourages action
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- protectionGuarding against harm
- defenseProtection against harm
survival · predation · avoidance · startle · intimidation · escape · rejection · hesitation · prey · predator
conspicuous
Clearly visible, attention-grabbing
bold · flashy · noticeable · distinctive · advertisement · signal · pigmentation · pattern · contrast · high-visibility
warning colorationcamouflage
Concealment through visual blending
protective coloration · countershading · drab · dull · earth tones
color, warning, colorful, warned, warnings, coloration, forewarn, discoloration, warningly