rheotaxis

[ ree-uh-tak-sis ]

noun

, Biology.

1. oriented movement of an organism in response to a current of fluid, especially water.

rheotaxis

/ ˌriːəˈtæksɪs; ˌriːəˈtæktɪk /

noun

1. movement of an organism towards or away from a current of water

Derived Forms

• rheotactic, adjective

Other Words From

• rhe·o·tac·tic [ree-, uh, -, tak, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rheotaxis¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; rheo- + -taxis

Example Sentences

This flow helps prevent pathogens from invading the reproductive tract by flushing them down and simultaneously selects sperm capable of swimming against the flow toward the egg via a phenomenon known as rheotaxis.

From Science Daily

But in high-viscosity media, an increase in shear rate from 0 to 6 per second at 75 millipascal seconds reduced the flagellar curvature by 20%, and the flagellar beating frequency was highest at a shear rate of 3 per second, which is favorable for sperm rheotaxis.

From Science Daily

According to the authors, this phenomenon suggests a potential increase in energy production and changes in flagellar beating behavior under these specific conditions to possibly enable rheotaxis and facilitate a transition from circular motion to rolling motion.

From Science Daily

When that happens, the anchovies display their contentment by swimming slowly and directly into the flow of water, a behavior known as positive rheotaxis.

From Washington Post

When that happens, the anchovies display their contentment by swimming slowly and directly into the flow of water – a behavior known as positive rheotaxis.

From Scientific American