Recurrent evolution of small body size and loss of the sword ornament in Northern swordtail fish.

ABSTRACT: Across the tree of life, species have repeatedly evolved similar phenotypes. While well-studied for ecological traits, there is also evidence for recurrent evolution of sexually selected traits. Swordtail fish (Xiphophorus) is a classic model system for studying sexual selection, and female Xiphophorus exhibit strong mate preferences for large male body sizes and a range of sexually dimorphic ornaments. Interestingly, sexually selected traits have also been lost multiple times in the genus. However, there has been uncertainty over the number of losses of ornamentation and large body size because phylogenetic relationships between species in this group have historically been controversial, partially due to prevalent gene flow. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing approaches to reexamine phy

SUBMITTER: Preising GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11637981 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature