Unraveling the Red Beard–Dark Hair Dyad

The document explores the phenomenon of individuals having dark hair with a red beard, attributing it to Thayer’s Theorem of countershading, which suggests that lighter ventral surfaces aid in camouflage. This trait likely evolved through natural selection rather than sexual selection. The study also draws parallels with peacock plumage, suggesting it serves as a form of camouflage to protect peahens by attracting predators' attention to the males. This dynamic allows females to choose the most striking males without negatively impacting the species due to the peacocks' ability to evade predators through flight, balancing the evolutionary pressures.