Mertensianadj.
/məːˈtɛnsɪən/, /məːˈtɛnzɪən/, U.S. /mərˈtɛnsiən/, /mərˈtɛnziən/, /mərˈtɛn(t)ʃ(i)ən/ Zoology.
Designating a proposed form of mimicry in which the model is a distasteful or moderately noxious animal and its mimic is a lethal or highly noxious one.The highly noxious animal could not itself be the model because a predator could not learn to avoid it (being killed by any encounter).Mertensian mimicry is usually discussed in the context of coral snakes and their apparent mimics, where it is said to occur in conjunction with both Batesian mimicry and Müllerian mimicry.
ΚΠ
1968 R. D. Martin tr. W. Wickler Mimicry in Plants & Animals xii. 119 This form of mimicry, where the most offensive species is not the model because it is too offensive to allow the signal-receiver to learn, and is instead the mimic of a less offensive species, could perhaps be called Mertensian mimicry... One would also speak of Mertensian mimicry where the threatened animal does not kill its enemy but only eliminates the sense organ necessary for the recognition of a similar prey.
1977 New Scientist 24 Feb. 456/1 Both deadly and harmless coral snakes derived protection by mimicking the slightly dangerous ones. This is Mertensian mimicry, named after R. Mertens who did the pioneering work on coral snakes.
1988 C. Gans Biol. Reptilia XVI. ii. 183 It has been suggested that rear-fanged species of snakes with coral-snake patterns are the models, and that the nonvenomous and front-fanged species are, respectively Batesian and Müllerian mimics. The name ‘Mertensian mimicry’ has been applied to this hypothesis.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1968- the right regionally gate
- the right regionally gate of
- the right sort
- the right stuff
- the right way
- the right way of
- the right way of it
- the right —— for the job
- the rights
- the rightward
- the rightward of
- the rightwards
- the rightwards of
- the rigour of the law
- the rise of
- the river eridanus
- the riverward
- the road to hell is paved with good intentions
- the road to nowhere
- the rockies
- the roof and crown of
- the roof and crown of something
- the roof falls in
- the roof of the world
- the root