Do drab animals live longer?

04 May 2008

Part of the show Clothed Questions, Naked Answers

Big Bird

Credit:

From "40 Years of Evolution” - P. R. Grant & B. R. Grant, Princeton University Press

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Question

Do those drab birds live longer because they’re putting less energy into making themselves look gorgeous?

Answer

I don't think so. I think the point is they're not doing so well anyway because they've got less food. In nature I suppose if they did want to live longer by not having such fancy feathers it might give you a bit of a helping hand. That's something I think we need to study as well because I think that guy was keeping those creatures a bit hungry. I don't suppose they would have lived as long!