Speciation by genital evolution: sexual selection and genes producing species differences

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This study aimed to reveal sexual selection for exaggerated genital morphology and genes related to species-specific genital morphology in the ground beetle group Ohomopterus, which exhibited a marked interspecific divergence in shape and size in male and female genitalia. In an experiment to study selection on genital size using within-species variations, matching in genital sizes between the sexes was favored for sperm competition, and it was suggested that sexual conflict or reproductive interference with another species needs to be considered for an explanation of exaggeration of genital morphology. In a comparison of transcriptomes between two sister species with marked differences in genital morphology, some genes with differential expressions between the species were found, but these were unlikely to be the genes affecting species-specific genital morphology.