heliotaxis

English

Etymology

helio- +‎ taxis

Noun

heliotaxis (uncountable)

  1. (biology) Phototaxis related to the sun.
    1. Movement of an organism toward sunlight; positive heliotaxis.
    2. Movement of an organism away from sunlight; negative heliotaxis.
      • 1903, William Morton Wheeler, "Some Notes on the Habits of Cerapachs Augustae", Psyche 10(325-326), page 206:
        Pronounced negative heliotaxis, evidently depending on some photodermatic sense, was apparent when the ants were exposed to the sun...
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