Scototaxis

In biology, the scototaxis is the light-dark orientation of living beings in which the living being is directed ( taxis ) towards places that stand out darkly from the lighter surroundings. This is to be distinguished from negative phototaxis , the movement away from a light source.

Skototaxis is commonly found in animal groups that live in the leaf litter or in the upper soil layers: for example, isopods (Isopoda), millipedes (Myriopoda) and earwigs (Dermaptera).

The targeted growth of fixed organisms (such as plants) is known as scototropism .

literature

• Martin Schaefer: Dictionary of Ecology . Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, 4th edition 2003, p. 319. ISBN 3-8274-0167-4