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Reply	lone_rainger@yahoo.com.au says: I have often had similar thoughts on why this colour or that shape etc. i find comfort in the belief that as everything is still evolving there is no reason to expect that what we see today is the final result. Mutations seem to occur randomly and unless one is detrimental to its host's chance of survival or procreation there is no need for a species to die off or indeed suffer the slightest. After all, if you asked millions of years ago what good was the feathery bit of skin you saw on an ordinary looking lizard..  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2007-06-22 16:30:00 | Report abuse

Reply	Anonymous says: This is probably an advert of fitness to the opposite sex, like the long tail a peacock has. It actually hinders the animal, but advertises the fitness of the individual for being able to survive with such an attractive disadvantage.  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2007-06-26 11:55:00 | Report abuse

Reply	Silas says: Boobies and most species of brightly plumaged or resplendently skinned birds use their garishness to flaunt their health and ability to provide for a family. It takes enough extra energy to produce these displays that the male with the brightest should also be the best suited for gathering the most resources for growing chicks.  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2007-06-29 17:57:00 | Report abuse

Reply	maxiogee says: On an edition of The Natural World shown recently on a satellite channel (Animal Planet??), David Attenborough spoke of the blue-footed boobies and said it served to identify the booby to a female of the same species, to assure her that she wasn't contemplating breeding with the other sort. He didn't imply that this was the only purpose of the blue feet served, but it was his only comment on foot colour.  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2007-07-09 09:24:00 | Report abuse

Reply	Jess D says: It seems likely that the female boobies find this characteristic particularly attractive and so are more likely to mate with the males with blue feet.It may simply be a preference with no other advantage. If all females decided that they liked blue feet best, and therefore mated only with them, then the ones without blue feet would eventually die out. I expect a mutation arose in one male and all the females fell at his feet! The blue colour may have become a lot brighter throughout the generations.  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2007-10-18 20:16:00 | Report abuse

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