deimatic

comparative more deimatic · superlative most deimatic

1. biologyDesigned to startle or frighten a potential predator.

   Intermediate between the clear cases of camouflage and signaling are deimatic displays.

   2016, Peter Godfrey-Smith, Other Minds, William Collins, published 2018, page 125

   1 more example

   These deimatic eye spots do not have the same function as those that deflect predatory attack. They give to their owner the appearance of a considerable increase in size.

   1988, John L. Cloudsley-Thompson, Evolution and Adaptation of Terrestrial Arthropods, page 122

   Synonyms: dymantic