Which term refers to the phenomenon where males and females evolve to become less similar in appearance over time?

Which term refers to the phenomenon where males and females evolve to become less similar in appearance over time?

• A. Sexual monomorphism
• B. Parental care
• C. Sexual dimorphism
• D. Mate choice

Answer: (C)

Sexual dimorphism is when males and females of a species evolve to look different due to different reproductive pressures. Sexual selection often favors flashy traits in one sex—like brighter colors, larger size, or elaborate structures—to attract mates or deter rivals, while the other sex may be more cryptic or invested in caregiving, leading to distinct appearances. Over time, these divergent pressures push the two sexes further apart in traits such as size, coloration, or morphology. If sexes look similar, that would be sexual monomorphism. Parental care refers to behaviors around raising offspring, and mate choice describes the process by which individuals select partners, which can drive dimorphism but isn’t the pattern itself.

Sexual dimorphism is when males and females of a species evolve to look different due to different reproductive pressures. Sexual selection often favors flashy traits in one sex—like brighter colors, larger size, or elaborate structures—to attract mates or deter rivals, while the other sex may be more cryptic or invested in caregiving, leading to distinct appearances. Over time, these divergent pressures push the two sexes further apart in traits such as size, coloration, or morphology.

If sexes look similar, that would be sexual monomorphism. Parental care refers to behaviors around raising offspring, and mate choice describes the process by which individuals select partners, which can drive dimorphism but isn’t the pattern itself.