10.1 Sexual Dimorphism

We can see in the pipefish example that the female has striking colors, helping her to court the male. Normally, we see the male exhibiting these fancy displays in order to attract the females. This is because the females have eggs, which are seen as far more valuable than what the male has to offer. The most obvious example I can think of is peacocks and their exuberant fans. This female pipefish is displaying her coloring in order to attract a rather boring-looking male, which is extremely unique. 

In Microphis deocata (pipefish), it is actually the male that carries the fertilized egg, not the female. This could explain why the female is required to have such a display; she needs to attract a male that will carry the fertilized egg for her. The males, in this case, have more value than the females. Therefore, they are sought after by females. My hypothesis is that female courtship arose due to the fact that the females in this species need a male to carry the fertilized offspring so that it has a chance at survival. 

This is incredibly interesting to me. You go girl!