epigamicadj.
/ɛpɪˈɡamɪk/ Zoology.
Relating to the mating of animals and the characteristics of colour, etc., which serve to attract the opposite sex during courtship.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [adjective] > relating to mating
nuptial1840
epigamic1890
1890 E. B. Poulton Colours of Animals xvii. 338 Epigamic Colours. Colours displayed in courtship.
1923 J. S. Huxley Ess. Biologist iv. 135 The human species..has epigamic characters of both kinds. Some, like voice and moustache, are different in the two sexes, others, such as colour of eyes and lips,..are common to both.
1959 Chambers's Encycl. II. 328/2 The principal types of display are epigamic, or display in which a sexual element is involved; aposematic or threat display; and distraction or diversionary display.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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adj.1890