In many species we find substantial differences between the two sexes including size and weight differences, behavioral differences but also and in particular differences in coloration. Coloration can be highly exaggerated in one sex as for example in birds like the peacock, reptiles or fish. In many species such colorful characteristics are preferred by the other sex. Here we study a remarkable group of fishes from African lakes, the cichlid fishes, that evolved color differences between sexes very recently. We will address how the evolutionary transition from sexes looking similar (sexual monomorphism) to sexes looking very different (sexual dimorphism) occurred. For this we will be looking at the underlying genetic differences and investigate the molecular processes that male fish (that are more colorful in these species) undergo when they reach sexual maturity. This will provide us with a deeper understanding how the colorful diversity that we find in many animal species evolved.

2022

2027