APOSEMATISM: What is and examples

The aposthematism It is the phenomenon or strategy that use different species of animals (and some plants), to warn other species of living beings of their chemical toxicity. Coming from the Greek “Apo” (far, part) and “Sema” (sign), Amematism is based on using warning signs to remove other species, mainly, predators. To do this, the Apamine species have striking colorations and certain behaviors that they use as a warning signal of their own toxicity.

Now that we know what the warning colors in animals and plants or the strategy of aposthematism, let’s see in the next sections more characteristics and concrete examples of this amazing phenomenon of nature.

Among the main ones Characteristics of Amematism stand out:

• The type of Aparaciones that exist among living beings who use this survival strategy. Generally, these apamatic colorations have intense yellow, orange, red, blue and black colors, sometimes combined with each other, or separately.
• When observing these colors in their prey, predators relate that these are species with some type of Toxic, poison or irritating liquids that can cause damage and even death.
• In this way, the Aphematical species have different characteristics related to their amematism, so that they can have glands that give off irritating compounds, toxic substances on their skin or even Sting They inject poison.

Within the Animatismamphibians and insects are the groups of organisms that have developed the most this strategy of warning of their toxicity, although there are also some species of mammals and even strategies of fish amematism. In the following list we offer Examples of Amematismmentioning common and scientific names of many of the Apamatic animal species More incredible and, in addition, you can find your photos in the same order:

• Frury DardorOophaga granulifera)
• Yellow dart frog (Phyllobates Terribilis)
• Salamandra common (salamandridae family)
• Hornet (Vespa Crubro)
• Wasps (Hymenoptera order)
• Bees (Apis Mellifera)
• Mantis shrimp (Gonodactylus Smithii)
• Muffets (Mephitidae family)
• Coral snake (Elapidae family)
• Lionfish (Pterois antennata)
• Lady, Vaquitas de San Antonio or Catarinas (Coccinella Septempunctata)
• Monarch butterfly (Danous Plexippus)

To learn more sorbe this topic, we recommend this other article: are the salamanders poisonous?

Among the strategies that have developed many species of animals and plants to survive, those related to hiding with the surrounding environment and even resemble other poisonous species to be confused by predators. For each of these strategies, different concepts are distinguished within biology. Next, we talk about Mimetism, crypt and aposthematicism and its differences:

Mimicry

Mimicism involves the use of a certain anatomy and a coloration by the organism by way of costume that mimics another species to which he wants to resemble as much as possible to guarantee his survival. It is amazing how, without maintaining any biological relationship or kinship, two different species manage to resemble morphologically, with the aim of achieving some biological advantage and guaranteeing their survival. Thus, through mimicry, organisms deceive other species with which they live in the same habitat (mainly their predators), confusing the senses of sight, ear and smell of these and, thus, manage to survive more time.

To learn more about this survival strategy, we encourage you to read this other article about what mimicry and examples are.

Crypt or camouflage

Camouflage or crypt is the individual’s ability to set up with the environment in which it is. This is achieved by changing its color and/or shape to have a camouflage that gives more effective results and, in this way, predators cannot differentiate it.

If you want to know more about the crypt or camouflage strategy, we recommend this post about 20 animals that camouflage.

APOSEMATICS

Finally, as we have seen throughout the article, the Amematicism simply allows toxic and/or poisonous species to warn of their danger to avoid being captured by most of their predators. In this way, amemtaism could be considered as a Strategy contrary to camouflagesince the species expose their intense warning colorations to other living beings, instead of camouflaging themselves with the environment to avoid being discovered by their predators.

To continue expanding this information, do not hesitate to know these animals that change color and their strategies.

If you want to read more articles similar to APOSEMATISM: What is and exampleswe recommend that you enter our biology category.