(in the coloration of certain animals) a pattern, serving as camouflage, in which dark colours occur on parts of the body exposed to the light and pale colours on parts in the shade
countershading in American English
(ˈkauntərˌʃeidɪŋ)
noun
Zoology
the development of dark colors on parts usually exposed to the sun and of light colors on parts usually shaded, esp. as serving for protection or concealment
Word origin
[1895–1900; counter- + shading]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Marxism, backstage, backwind, calling card, freewheelcounter- is a combining form with the meanings “against,” “contrary,” “opposite,” “in oppositionor response to” (countermand); “complementary,” “in reciprocation,” “corresponding,” “parallel” (counterfoil; counterbalance); “substitute,” “duplicate” (counterfeit)
Examples of 'countershading' in a sentence
countershading
We tested the behavioural limits on body orientation for countershading to deliver effective visual camouflage.
Olivier Penacchio, Julie M. Harris, P. George Lovell 2017, 'Establishing the behavioural limits for countershaded camouflage', Scientific Reportshttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-017-13914-y. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Detection time was significantly shorter and accuracy significantly higher than when the target orientation matched the countershading pattern.
Olivier Penacchio, Julie M. Harris, P. George Lovell 2017, 'Establishing the behavioural limits for countershaded camouflage', Scientific Reportshttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-017-13914-y. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)