Male peacocks have tail feathers that make up 60% of their body length. During the mating season they fan their tails and shake these feathers in front of females. Females evaluate the tail-shaking behavior as part of selecting their mate. Which of the behaviors below is most likely to have been the original behavior that, through natural selection, resulted in this mate choice behavior of tail shaking?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The original behavior that likely evolved into the mate choice behavior of tail shaking in peacocks is involuntary muscle contraction like shivering. This is because the shaking of the tail feathers during mating displays is a physical action that could have evolved from basic muscle movements, such as shivering, which then became exaggerated and specialized for communication and mate selection.

Male Peacocks Have Tail Feathers That Make Up 60% of Their