Posted: Dec 03, 2019 2:31 am
scott1328 wrote:Having only cursorily read the thread over the last seven years, I am going to interject a naive question: Doesn't research show that lady baboons find big canine teeth sexy?
They don't need to find canine teeth sexy if the only guy available is the one with the big canine teeth who drove off the other possible males.
Really though, it's abstracted. What baboon females 'find sexy' is the dominant male rather than any particular trait. Why do they find the dominant male sexy (subconsciously), because he's got the right genetic composition to become the dominant male. Him - and male specimens like him (so his genetic offspring) - are successful in finding mates and reproducing.
There's an essential tautology to many of the sexual selection paths species follow.
Meanwhile, the less well physically endowed but craftier males are sneaking round the back for a bit of nooky behind the baboon equivalent of the bike shed. Genetic variety is the spice of life!