The 39 species.
(Science Week - Actual Day 6!)
More about STUPID evolution?
Heh heh heh.
This is where it gets lovely – you’ve seen these avian dudes if you’ve watched Planet Earth. (If you haven’t, then WHY ARE YOU READING THIS AND NOT WATCHING PLANET EARTH.)
Anyway. My understanding is that species out of danger aren’t subject to the corresponding selection pressures, so their reproduction is freer to depend on males’ and females’ ability to appeal to each other. They evolve in whatever direction that turns out to be – and creatures’ attractiveness is as free to vary as brains’ attractabiltiy to whatever traits.
So birds of paradise turn out all weird.