Study Finds Intelligence Boosts Mating Success in Male Mosquitofish

Research suggests smarter male mosquitofish have more offspring, though the role of female preference remains unclear.

A study published in 'Nature Ecology and Evolution' found that male mosquitofish with higher cognitive abilities fathered more offspring than their less intelligent counterparts.
Researchers tested male fish on spatial tasks, such as navigating mazes, and tracked their reproductive success over two months.
Over 2,000 paternity tests revealed that smarter males mated with more females and produced significantly more offspring.
It remains uncertain whether female mosquitofish actively prefer intelligent mates or if smarter males are simply more effective at pursuing them.
The findings support the idea that sexual selection, alongside natural selection, may play a role in the evolution of intelligence in animals.