crypsis
n.— «In those insect which gain protection from mechanisms other than crypsis (warning, threat and flash coloration), or even in those cryptic moths which benefit from resembling dead leaves, the melanics are rare, recessive, sub-lethal and are probably retained by recurrent mutation.» —“A Resume of Investigations on the Evolution of Melanism in the Lepidoptera” by H.B.D. Kettlewell Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences July 24, 1956. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Is there such a thing as a “neutral” accent, and if so what does it sound like? And that quirk in the way southern Californians talk about freeways. They’ll say things like take the 405 and get on the 8. Why the definite article...
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