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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 22 2018, @09:02AM (2 children)
Horny Dinosaurs.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 22 2018, @12:58PM
The submitter missed the science news blurb over at Science, who tongue-in-cheek titled it "Why was Triceratops so horny?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 23 2018, @04:07AM
..life finds a way!
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday March 22 2018, @09:03AM
Peacock: Look at this sign of excess resources! I am a good mate!
Ceratopsian: Look! I'm horny!
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 22 2018, @11:09AM
Frilly things. They make me feel beautiful!
I have to say, however, they haven't really helped me find a mate.
Maybe i'm not as much of a dinosaur as people keep telling me?
(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.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday March 22 2018, @04:20PM
Porcupines are prickly.
Consider porcupine mating. Very carefully.
Male: Don't worry dear, you might get poked, but it's just a small prick.
Mating partner: Yes, I know dear.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Friday March 23 2018, @04:36AM
Explains jmorris, who is still "available", if you know what I mean. And the khallow, who has been doing the whole horn display thing for quite some time in Yellowstone, but so far has only attracted cow elk and some Bighorn ewes in estrus. And some Mountain goats, but they tend to hang in Glacier, more than Yellowstone, and not so much in the data centre of either. That leaves the mid-western human heifer, whose tender mercies might be attracted to our lonely khallow, if he would just lose the horns, and go for khakis and a nice button down shirt. And, shave. The goatee is not a substitute for dinosaur frills, no matter how much you might think so.