If love is a battlefield, evolution has given animals and insects the tools for competition. Peacocks boast flashy tails and birds sing to capture the attention of mates, meanwhile, elk and dung beetles use antlers and horns, respectively, to fight off other males during courtship.

These traits, which can vary widely within the same species, have long interested biology Professor Erin McCullough.

“Sexual selection, or competition over mates, is responsible for many of the biggest, flashiest, most colorful, and conspicuous traits that we find in the animal kingdom,” she says.

🎙️❤️ This Valentine’s Day, tune in to this fascinating biology lesson on Clark’s “Challenge. Change.” podcast. 🔗 See link in bio to listen now.