Wildlife
Warning colours (aposematism) describes colouration and other markings that send a signal to predators to keep away, often because the owner is poisonous or simply tastes bad. Warning colours are usually two contrasting ones, such as yellow and black, in stripes or blobs for maximum impact to multiple species, since even colour-blind animals can see patterns. As this anti-predation strategy is so useful, some animals cheat. Eye spot patterns make them look like larger organisms or bright colours might warn away even though they are safe to eat. The hoverfly is striped like a wasp, but has no sting.
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Day-flying moths
Burnet moths can afford to be blasé because they taste bad.
Burnet moths can afford to be blasé because they taste bad.
Defensive tactics
The grey hornbill is an expert at defeating the defences put up by caterpillars.
The grey hornbill is an expert at defeating the defences put up by caterpillars.
Ant acid
Ants provide oogpister beetles with more than just nourishment.
South Africa's black and white oogpister beetle may not just eat ants for their nourishment. It may also eat them for the folic acid they contain and which the beetle sprays in the face of any animal that comes too close for comfort. No wonder then that a tasty lizard has evolved to look just like the beetle, scaring off the predators.
Second hand stings
Sea slugs consume and recycle the stings of their prey.
Sea slugs consume and recycle the stings of their prey.
Toxic sea snake
The sea krait's ultra-strong venom has to immobilise fast-moving prey.
The sea krait's ultra-strong venom has to immobilise fast-moving prey.
Aposematism (from apo- away, and sematic sign/meaning), perhaps most commonly known in the context of warning colouration, describes a family of antipredator adaptations where a warning signal is associated with the unprofitability of a prey item to potential predators. It is one form of "advertising" signal, with many others existing, such as the bright colours of flowers which lure pollinators. The warning signal may take the form of conspicuous colours, sounds, odours or other perceivable characteristics. Aposematic signals are beneficial for both the predator and prey, both of which avoid potential harm.
This tendency to become highly noticeable and distinct from harmless organisms is the antithesis of crypsis, or avoidance of detection. Aposematism has been such a successful adaptation that harmless organisms have repeatedly evolved to mimic aposematic species, a pattern known as Batesian mimicry. Another related pattern is Müllerian mimicry, where aposematic species come to resemble one another.
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Striped Skunk
Banded sea krait
Poison dart frogs
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bumblebees
Common wasp
European honey bee
Hornet
Mason bees
Harlequin ladybird
Seven-spot ladybird 
Burnet moth
Cabbage white
Marbled white