| Summary: | Introducing readers to important discoveries in animal behavior and evolution, Odd Couples explores some of the most extraordinary sexual differences in the animal world and shows how all can be understood through the common conceptual framework of evolutionary biology. The book uncovers the unique and bizarre characteristics—in size, behavior, ecology, and life history—that exist in these remarkable species and the special strategies they use to maximize reproductive success. Eight chapters highlight individual species with exceptional sexual dimorphisms, including elephant seals (Mirounga sp.), great bustards (Otis tarda), shell-carrying cichlids (Lamprologus callipterus), deep-sea anglerfishes (Ceratias holboelli), garden spiders (Argiope aurantia), bone-eating worms (Osedax sp.), blanket octopuses (Tremoctopus sp.) and burrowing barnacles (Trypetesa lampas). In addition, two synthesis chapters use data from all known animal phyla and classes to discern overall trends and patterns of sexual differences, providing the first broad-scale, quantitative analysis of sexual dimorphisms across the entire Animal Kingdom. Supplementary Table ASUPPLEMENTARY TABLE A: Allocation of reproductive function in the Animal Kingdom. The table shows the proportion of species with asexual and sexual reproduction and the proportion of sexual species that are dioecious. The proportions are given as none, rre, minority, majority, almost all or all. The table also gives the type of hermaphroditism where present (simultaneous, protandric, protogynous or alternating) and the patterns of sexual dimorphism in dioecious species. Estimates are shown separately for each animal phylum and its constituent classes.Supplementary Table BSUPPLEMENTARY TABLE B: Sexual dimorphisms in dioecious species. The table scores presence or absence for morphological traits that show externally apparent differences between the sexes in animal classes that include at least some dioecious species. Phyla and classes are listed in alphabetical order within four ...
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