70 Sexuality and gender, animal sexuality

Flirty fish may solve riddle of gay animals

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Scientists have discovered male fish become more attractive to the opposite sex when they display gay behavior.

Researchers at the University of Frankfurt studied fish such as the Atlantic molly which is more attracted to male fish they see having sex with females.
The study published in Biology Letters revealed this behavior also worked when males were seen ‘flirting’ with other males, increasing their attractiveness to females as potential mating partners.
The team of scientists claim their findings may be the key to understanding why homosexuality is displayed in other animals.
‘Male homosexual behaviour – although found across the animal kingdom – remains a conundrum, as same-sex mating should decrease male reproductive fitness,’ the researchers said.