procryptic, a. Zool.
(prəʊˈkrɪptɪk)
[f. pro-1 or pro-2 + Gr. κρυπτικός fit for concealing, f. κρύπτειν to hide, conceal: cf. cryptic. (App. formed after protective.)]
Having the function of protectively concealing: applied to the protective mimicry of colour and form, observed in insects (esp. butterflies and moths and their caterpillars), and some other animals. Hence proˈcryptically adv.
| 1891 E. B. Poulton in Proc. Zool. Soc. 463 A palatable insect..which defended itself, like the great majority of its allies, by Protective Resemblance (Procryptic Colouring). 1900 Nature 13 Dec. 157/2 These animals are known to be procryptically coloured. |