A new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution has discovered a paradox in the evolution of animals that are brightly colored to warn predators they are toxic: they are more likely to be eaten. Researchers found that these animals are more likely to be targeted by predators and suffer greater mortality, which could lead to their extinction. This paradox has perplexed scientists, as the traditional thinking is that the bright colors of such animals serve as a warning, thus deterring predators and increasing the rate of their survival.

Do brightly colored animals have a death wish? That’s the question scientists have been asking after a recent study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution revealed that animals that are brightly colored to warn predators of their toxicity are more likely to be eaten. This puzzling paradox has been puzzling scientists for years, as the traditional thinking was that bright colors would serve as a warning, thus deterring predators. But this new study found that the opposite is true: brightly colored animals are more likely to be targeted by predators and suffer greater mortality, which could lead to extinction.

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source: Phys.org