Sexual signals persist over deep time: ancient co-option of bioluminescence for courtship displays in cypridinid ostracods
E. A. Ellis, J. A. Goodheart, N. M. Hensley, V. L. Gonzalez, N. J. Reda, T. J. Rivers, J. G. Morin, E. Torres, G. A. Gerrish, T. H. Oakley
The paper estimates the longevity of bioluminescent courtship in cypridinid ostracods, finding it persisted for over 151 million years, suggesting sexual selection may reduce extinction risk.
bioRxiv · Sep 3, 2021Evolutionary Biology