automimicry

noun

au·​to·​mim·​ic·​ry ¦ȯ-tō-¦mi-mə-krē 

biology

1

: mimicry occurring between members of the same species

In automimicry, both the model and the mimic exist within a given species; usually one sex exhibits a morphological feature that serves as the (evolutionary) model for members of the other sex.

—Richard C. Francis, Why Men Won't Ask for Directions: The Seductions of Sociobiology, 2004

2

: mimicry occurring between parts of the same organism

To look more fearsome, some even embrace automimicry—shaping other parts of their body to look like their actual teeth or horns.

—Kurt Kleiner, New Scientist, 30 Aug. 2003

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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