Sexual selection Animal coloration

male goldie s bird of paradise displays female

darwin observed males of species, such birds of paradise, different females.

darwin explained such male-female differences in theory of sexual selection in book descent of man. once females begin select males according particular characteristic, such long tail or coloured crest, characteristic emphasized more , more in males. males have characteristics females sexually selecting for, males can reproduce. mechanism powerful enough create features disadvantageous males in other ways. example, male birds of paradise have wing or tail streamers long impede flight, while brilliant colours may make males more vulnerable predators. in extreme, sexual selection may drive species extinction, has been argued enormous horns of male irish elk, may have made difficult mature males move , feed.

different forms of sexual selection possible, including rivalry among males, , selection of females males.