xanthophobia

English

Etymology

From xantho- +‎ -phobia.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /zæn.θəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/

  Rhymes: -əʊbiə

Noun

xanthophobia (uncountable)

1. (rare) An aversion to yellow light.
   • 1991 December 13, Blair E. Witherington, Karen A. Bjorndal, “Influences of Wavelength and Intensity on Hatchling Sea Turtle Phototaxis: Implications for Sea-Finding Behavior”, in Copeia, volume 1991, number 4, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, pages 1067–8:

     One function of xanthophobia in loggerhead hatchlings may be to reduce the attraction of light sources with a substantial participation of long-wavelength light.

   • 1996, in FMRI Technical Reports number 2,^[1] Florida Marine Research Institute, page 10:

     The aversion to yellow light, or xanthophobia, that loggerhead hatchlings show sets them apart from other sea turtle species.

   • 1997, Kenneth J. Lohmann et al., “Orientation, Navigation, and Natal Beach Homing in Sea Turtles”, chapter 5 of John A. Musick et al. (editors), The Biology of Sea Turtles, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 111:

     In contrast, loggerhead hatchlings showed an aversion to light in the green-yellow to yellow region of the spectrum (560 to 600 nm) (Figure 5.2). Although this xanthophobia (yellow light aversion) is unique to loggerheads, green turtles are less strongly attracted to yellow light than to light of other wavelengths.