crypsis
|cryp-sis|
/ˈkrɪpsɪs/
staying hidden
Etymology
'crypsis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'krypsis', where 'kryptein' meant 'to hide'.
'crypsis' entered scientific English via Neo‑Latin/modern scientific usage (from Greek 'krypsis') and became established in ecology and evolutionary biology in the 19th–20th centuries as a technical term.
Initially it meant 'the act of hiding', but over time it evolved into a technical biological term referring to a range of concealment strategies (camouflage, masquerade, behavioral hiding) used by organisms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the biological ability of an organism to avoid detection by other animals (especially predators or prey) through coloration, patterning, behavior, or form — includes camouflage, background matching, masquerade, and related strategies.
Many moth species rely on crypsis to avoid being eaten by birds.
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Noun 2
a general state or strategy of hiding or being inconspicuous (applied beyond strict morphological camouflage, e.g., behavioral crypsis or concealment of identity).
Cryptic coloration is one form of crypsis, but animals also use behavior and timing as crypsis strategies.
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Last updated: 2025/12/15 05:50