Hidden sexual attraction

2003/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

It is known that many animals have the most surprising colors to attract their partner. But that has the drawback that both attract predators.

The researchers had the feeling that some animals did not use hidden messages to find a partner. They have found a type of fish that shows that suspicion.

The clays swords of Xiphophorus nigrensis have seen that the ultraviolet colors are the signal. Females also have them, but they are not so much. Females are able to see these signs, attracting males. However, predators are not able to see ultraviolet signals, so they are not so visible to predators.