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<p>Sexual selection theory predicts that female preferences produce directional selection for larger male traits. Thus, females may even harbor unexpressed preferences for supernormal signals that exceed the upper limit of the current signal variation. However, for exaggerated male courtship signals, females may face conflicts between sexual selection and species recognition. Male dotillid crabs, <i>Ilyoplax pusilla</i>, perform claw-waving displays during the breeding season to attract wandering (burrow-less) females to their burrows for mating. Males move their claws repeatedly with a simple up-down movement at a height of 11–23&#xa0;mm, although this movement varies with body size. We compared female preferences between two different waving heights using three claw models moved by microcomputer-controlled servomotors with average (16&#xa0;mm), high (26&#xa0;mm), or extra-high (36&#xa0;mm) claw heights. Significantly more females chose the high (26&#xa0;mm) model than the average and extra-high models. However, no significant differences were observed between the average and extra-high models. In this species, most females prefer higher waving but may not recognize exaggerated courtship signals as coming from the same species.</p>

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Female preference for exaggerated waving signals in the dotillid crab Ilyoplax pusilla: a conflict between sexual selection and species recognition

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月12日

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  • Yumi Kamiyotsumoto,
  • Keiji Kasamura,
  • Yasuhisa Henmi

摘要

Sexual selection theory predicts that female preferences produce directional selection for larger male traits. Thus, females may even harbor unexpressed preferences for supernormal signals that exceed the upper limit of the current signal variation. However, for exaggerated male courtship signals, females may face conflicts between sexual selection and species recognition. Male dotillid crabs, Ilyoplax pusilla, perform claw-waving displays during the breeding season to attract wandering (burrow-less) females to their burrows for mating. Males move their claws repeatedly with a simple up-down movement at a height of 11–23 mm, although this movement varies with body size. We compared female preferences between two different waving heights using three claw models moved by microcomputer-controlled servomotors with average (16 mm), high (26 mm), or extra-high (36 mm) claw heights. Significantly more females chose the high (26 mm) model than the average and extra-high models. However, no significant differences were observed between the average and extra-high models. In this species, most females prefer higher waving but may not recognize exaggerated courtship signals as coming from the same species.