Question

You observe two species of snakes that each has bright red markings on its backs. In one species only the females have the bright coloration. Bright coloration makes snakes more visible to predators.

A) Given only this information which species would you predict experiences more equal investment in reproduction and why?

B) For the species that experiences less equal investment in reproduction which sex likely invests more based on the data provided and why?

Answer 1

A) There are two species of snakes with bright red markings on the back of their bodies. In one species only female contains this mark. The bright coloration may make them visible for predation. Only females contain the bright red colored mark means with this mark, the females attract the males during reproduction. These females reproduce many offspring as they may be highly predated due to prominently visible red markings to predators.

B) The other species males may contain the bright red markings. Due to the red colored mark, the males are highly predated and they participation in reproduction is less likely. This is due to the presence red colored mark and they might being predated before they are sexually matured. Therefore, the males are less likely to invest in reproduction and more prone to predation.