Sexual selection is a theory in evolutionary biology, which aims to explain why certain traits, even those that hinder individual survival, spread and may become pronounced within a species. The theory suggests that while something like the peacock's large, colorful tail makes him easier prey for predators, thus lowering his chances of survival, peahens (the peacock's female counterparts) prefer to mate with him over other males with smaller or less colorful tails. In this way what he loses on the survival front, he gains in reproductive success (aka having more kids). While the reason for such mating preferences remains debated, it could be that the large tail is a strong fitness signal in itself. Having that added burden and still surviving to reproduce could very well indicate a given peacock's genetic health.
spam fails_task lang_mismatch pii not_appropriate hate_speech sexual_content quality toxicity humor helpfulness creativity violence