What term describes differences in size, shape, or color between the sexes?

What term describes differences in size, shape, or color between the sexes?

• A. Reproductive potential
• B. Sexual dimorphism
• C. Reproductive variance
• D. Systematics

Answer: (B)

Sexual dimorphism describes differences in size, shape, or color between the sexes. This term captures how males and females of a species can look different due to different selective pressures on each sex, often driven by sexual selection or ecological roles. For example, many birds have males with brighter plumage or larger displays to attract mates, and many mammals show size differences between males and females. The other ideas aren’t about physical differences between the sexes. Reproductive potential refers to the capacity to produce offspring, not how bodies differ; reproductive variance concerns differences in how successful individuals are at reproducing; and systematics is the science of classifying organisms and understanding their relationships.

Sexual dimorphism describes differences in size, shape, or color between the sexes. This term captures how males and females of a species can look different due to different selective pressures on each sex, often driven by sexual selection or ecological roles. For example, many birds have males with brighter plumage or larger displays to attract mates, and many mammals show size differences between males and females.

The other ideas aren’t about physical differences between the sexes. Reproductive potential refers to the capacity to produce offspring, not how bodies differ; reproductive variance concerns differences in how successful individuals are at reproducing; and systematics is the science of classifying organisms and understanding their relationships.