Suppose you traveled back in time and located the first animals to have developed feathers.You found that these animals were tree-dwelling ectotherms,able to run quickly but unable to fly.You also noticed that females of the species had no feathers at all,while males had bright blue feathers covering their tails.Which hypothesis of feather evolution would these data most support?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that only males have brightly colored feathers on their tails suggests that they are being used for courtship displays rather than flight or insulation. The tree-dwelling ectotherm lifestyle also does not support the idea of feathers evolving for flight or gliding.

Suppose You Traveled Back in Time and Located the First