Suppose you traveled back in time and located the first animals to have evolved feathers. You found that these animals were tree-dwelling ectotherms, able to run quickly but unable to fly. You also noticed that only males had feathers. Which hypothesis of feather evolution would these data most support? Feathers initially evolved in a role associated with ________.

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The fact that only males have feathers suggests that they may have evolved through sexual selection as a means for males to attract mates. This is supported by observations in many modern bird species where males have elaborate feather displays used for courtship rituals. Additionally, the lack of flight ability in these animals suggests that feathers did not initially evolve as an adaptation for flight.

Suppose You Traveled Back in Time and Located the First