Talk:Deimatic behaviour/Archive 1

Proposed merge

I propose that Threat display be merged here into Deimatic behaviour. The article at Threat display is brief, unsourced and otherwise unsatisfactory. If it were rewritten it would cover the same ground as Deimatic behaviour, so a merger seems the right option. There is little in Threat display that can be saved but the title is a sensible informal search term. Chiswick Chap (talk) 07:50, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

• I too think Deimatic behaviour is the more scientific term, represents the same topic as Threat display. JKadavoor Jee 08:38, 23 February 2013 (UTC)
• From what I little I know, isn't deimatic more related to changing color/patterns(like a chameleon) of an animal as opposed to a threat display which can be more generic (like a porcupine showing its quills)? Doing a quick search on google scholar indicates that the terms are used almost interchangeably with threat display being more generic. I'll try and find out more. -- Yathin S Krishnappa (talk) 09:28, 23 February 2013 (UTC)

Not really, deimatic means 'terrifying', same root as Dino-saur ('terrible lizard'), so it's all about scaring off by bluffing threat display. None of the sources say anything about colour change as such. Chiswick Chap (talk) 09:43, 23 February 2013 (UTC)

I see. I guess I had the wrong association with color/patterning because deimatic is mostly used to refer to smaller/vulnerable animals that use color/change in body to show threat when detected and threat display is more commonly used when the animal is not actively trying to go undetected (like in a stand off/competition). :) -- ~y (talk) 10:07, 23 February 2013 (UTC)