Condition-dependent female preference for male genitalia length is based on male reproductive tactics.

ABSTRACT: There is extensive morphological variation of male genitalia across animals with internal fertilization, even among closely related species. Most studies attempting to explain this extraordinary diversity have focused on processes that occur post-copula (e.g. sperm competition, cryptic female choice). Only a few studies have focused on the pre-copula process of female preference. In addition, the extent to which this variation could be associated with the use of different reproductive tactics has yet to be explored. Here, we show that female preference for male genitalia length in two livebearing fishes depends on the type of reproductive tactic of the males being evaluated as well as the body condition of the female. In a species where all males coax females to acquire matings (courters),

SUBMITTER: Hernandez-Jimenez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5740287 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature