PEACOCK by GARAGELAND

Photography • Animals • posted on Apr 22, 2012

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Description

Charles Darwin first theorized in On the Origin of Species that the peacock's plumage had evolved through sexual selection. This idea was expanded upon in his second book, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. “ The sexual struggle is of two kinds; in the one it is between individuals of the same sex, generally the males, in order to drive away or kill their rivals, the females remaining passive; whilst in the other, the struggle is likewise between the individuals of the same sex, in order to excite or charm those of the opposite sex, generally the females, which no longer remain passive, but select the more agreeable partners.” A seven-year study of free living peacocks, conducted in Japan, came to the conclusion that female peahens are virtually indifferent towards the male display of plumage. This study cast serious doubts on a long-held belief of the role of sexual selection in forming the brilliant plumage of male peacock. Joseph Jordania recently suggested that the peacock's brilliantly colored and oversized tail, as well as its piercing, loud call, evolved through the forces of natural selection, not sexual selection, and were primarily designed to intimidate rivals and competitors, not to attract females. Have a nice sunday. FULL ZOOOOMAGE RECOMENDED