What are some examples of dimorphism within birds?
Peafowl are among the most well-known and gorgeous examples of sexual dimorphism. While males (peacocks) sport a flamboyant and iridescent “train” of tail feathers that can open up in a grand display, females (peahens) possess a significantly more subdued appearance.
What is dimorphic in birds?
Sexual dimorphism in birds can be manifested in size or plumage differences between the sexes. Sexual size dimorphism varies among taxa with males typically being larger, though this is not always the case, e.g. birds of prey, hummingbirds, and some species of flightless birds.
Why are birds dimorphic?
Variation in the extent of sexual dimorphism among bird species is traditionally attributed to differences in social mating system. For example, recent work has shown that many highly polygamous species are, in fact, monomorphic, whereas many putatively monogamous species are dimorphic.
What is responsible for dimorphism?
The phenomenon of sexual dimorphism is a direct product of evolution by natural selection, in that the struggle for reproductive success drives many male and female organisms down different evolutionary paths. This can produce forms of dimorphism which, on the face of it, would actually seem to disadvantage organisms.
Why fungi are called dimorphic?
A small subset of fungi within the Ascomycota phylum is considered dimorphic, which refers to capacity to convert between two specific morphologic forms, yeast and hyphae. The thermally dimorphic fungi are unique among fungal pathogens because they can infect humans with normal and impaired immune defenses.
What is meant by dimorphism?
Definition of dimorphism : the condition or property of being dimorphic or dimorphous: such as. a : the existence of two different forms (as of color or size) of a species especially in the same population sexual dimorphism. b : the existence of a part (such as leaves of a plant) in two different forms.
What is a dimorphic trait?
The term dimorphism denotes a trait that occurs in two distinct forms or morphs within a given species and traits that differ consistently between males and females are sexual dimorphisms. Sexually dimorphic traits may differ so radically between sexes that they can be reliably used to differentiate males from females.
What are dimorphic plants?
Dimorphic – Literally, dimorphic means occurring in two forms. In botany the term describes plant organs that appear in two distinct forms or shapes on the same plant or in closely related plants, such as those in a species.
What is the meaning of dimorphism?