Unexpected female preference for smaller males in the marbled goby Pomatoschistus marmoratus.

The study tested the role of body size and of nest size in female mate choice in the marbled goby, Pomatoschistus marmoratus. The results show a female preference for smaller males, supporting the idea that smaller males may be preferred to larger ones in the absence of male-male competition. No effect of nest size was detected, suggesting that other nest characteristics, beyond nest size, may be implicated.