Abstaining Boobies Get “Sexier” | National Geographic

blue footed boobies are best known for

blue footed boobies are best known for their bright blue webbed feet

their bright blue webbed feet

their bright blue webbed feet prominently displayed in a courtship

prominently displayed in a courtship

prominently displayed in a courtship dance the male’s blue feet are important

dance the male’s blue feet are important

dance the male’s blue feet are important in attracting females a new study shows

in attracting females a new study shows

in attracting females a new study shows that while attractiveness of the blue

that while attractiveness of the blue

that while attractiveness of the blue feet diminishes with age in males that

feet diminishes with age in males that

feet diminishes with age in males that reproduce each year if males skip a

reproduce each year if males skip a

reproduce each year if males skip a breeding season and don’t mesh they

breeding season and don’t mesh they

breeding season and don’t mesh they displayed a more attractive foot color

displayed a more attractive foot color

displayed a more attractive foot color and had more green chroma breeding for

and had more green chroma breeding for

and had more green chroma breeding for these tropical fevers involves more than

these tropical fevers involves more than

these tropical fevers involves more than just the mating itself boobies have a

just the mating itself boobies have a

just the mating itself boobies have a long period of by parental care in other

long period of by parental care in other

long period of by parental care in other words the males are active participants

words the males are active participants

words the males are active participants in raising their young the eggs are

in raising their young the eggs are

in raising their young the eggs are incubated for 45 days and chicks stay

incubated for 45 days and chicks stay

incubated for 45 days and chicks stay with their parents for a four-month

with their parents for a four-month

with their parents for a four-month rearing period the study published in

rearing period the study published in

rearing period the study published in the Royal Society’s Biology Letters was

the Royal Society’s Biology Letters was

the Royal Society’s Biology Letters was conducted by researchers from University

conducted by researchers from University

conducted by researchers from University of Vigo in Spain and the National

of Vigo in Spain and the National

of Vigo in Spain and the National Autonomous University of Mexico they

Autonomous University of Mexico they

Autonomous University of Mexico they studied more than 100 male blue footed

studied more than 100 male blue footed

studied more than 100 male blue footed boobies over a total of six months in

boobies over a total of six months in

boobies over a total of six months in 2004 and 2005 on Mexico’s Isla Isabel

2004 and 2005 on Mexico’s Isla Isabel

2004 and 2005 on Mexico’s Isla Isabel and measured their green chroma using a

and measured their green chroma using a

and measured their green chroma using a spectrophotometer they concluded that

spectrophotometer they concluded that

spectrophotometer they concluded that it’s likely the sabbaticals from

it’s likely the sabbaticals from

it’s likely the sabbaticals from reproducing offspring may allow the male

reproducing offspring may allow the male

reproducing offspring may allow the male boobies to physically recover and

boobies to physically recover and

boobies to physically recover and display brighter feet in their quest in

display brighter feet in their quest in

display brighter feet in their quest in finding a mate