Heliophobic

/ˌhiːliəˈfoʊbɪk/ adjective

Definition

Describing organisms or people that fear, avoid, or are harmed by sunlight and prefer darkness or shade.

Etymology

From heliophobia + -ic (adjective-forming suffix). Creates the adjectival form to describe the quality or characteristic of fearing the sun.

Kelly Says

Fungi are mostly heliophobic—unlike plants that need light for photosynthesis, fungi get their energy by breaking down dead matter, so many species actually produce compounds that block UV light rather than absorbing it!

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