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Triceratops may have had horns to attract mates
Dinosaurs like the Triceratops may have had horns and frills to attract a mate, a new study suggests.
Ceratopsian, or horned dinosaurs, were previously thought to have developed this ornamentation to distinguish between different species.
This has now been ruled out in a study published in a Royal Society journal.
Instead, the aggressive-looking armour may actually have evolved to signal an animal's suitability as a partner, known as socio-sexual selection.
"Individuals are advertising their quality or genetic make-up," explained Andrew Knapp, lead author of the research reported in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
"We see that in peacocks too, with their tail feathers."
Also at Science Magazine.
Patterns of divergence in the morphology of ceratopsian dinosaurs: sympatry is not a driver of ornament evolution (open, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0312) (DX)
(Score: 2) by leftover on Thursday March 22 2018, @03:29PM (1 child)
On this rare occasion I actually did read the article, hoping to find more scientific content than was indicated by the summary. Happy to report that it does and it even provides enough context for general readers. They are trying to measure distinctions among fine-grained evolutionary drivers in the absence of behavioral and genetic information.
Bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Thursday March 22 2018, @06:22PM
OTOH, unlike the peacock tails there is evidence that the ceratopsian horns were actually useful other than for sexual display purposes. Various parts of the armor have been found with sufficient healed scars to denote it's use as valid protection.
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