Why do exotic creatures exist according to evolutionary theory?

Question

There are many animals that are considered "exotic" because they are rare and have unusual or striking features. They are rare because natural selection has promoted species with more conventional features over species with exotic traits. However, these exotic animals still exist and have existed for quite some time. There had to be a time when these creatures were the fittest to survive in order for them exist as they do, so why did they exist in the first place? Why were exotic creatures more fit to survive at one time and not now?

An example of an exotic trait would be bright colors, which could attract prey, but also attract predators.

Answer 1

Weather changes amongst  other factors over time have produced these rare species.They are still finding new ones under the oceans.

Answer 2

Sometimes, natural selection (i.e., selective killing of creatures with or without a certain trait) isn't the only kind of selection going on.

In many of the cases of 'exotic' traits, it's selective breeding that's responsible.  Usually, many generations of 'choosy' females (or occasionally males) will consistently select for extravagant features on the opposite s*x.  When this goes on for many generations, some very strange traits that actually harm the creature's survival in other ways can be created.

Answer 3

The environment changes and so must fitness, because fitness depends on the niche. The evolution of another species more fit to a particular niche may also make a species less fit and become rare and "exotic."

Another point on exotic traits is that natural selection does not select for survival of the individual but the survival of the species. Therefore, it would "favor" a trait that allows for more reproduction potential. For example, in the case of peacocks, the plumes are a survival disadvantage, but a reproductive advantage because the female birds mate more with male birds with big plumes.

Answer 4

Why they exist, who knows.

I doubt you'll find a scientist on here, to give you the answer your looking for.

Why does anything exist. We just DO. !! silly .

Answer 5

to make things short evolution is not true but I believe in speciation (where a species adapts 2 its surroundings) =]

Answer 6

You say exotic in a completely humanistic view. Natural selection drives species to be the fittest in their ecological niche at the present time it has no future sight, and features which were important in the past may be lost.

The main reason many so called exotic organisms appear less fit now are because humans put their lives at risk through habitat destruction or collecting.

Sexual selection can sometimes drive species in directions that have an effect of decreasing their fitness. Take the peacock for example:its magnificent tail ensures that it gets mates, but it is large and cumbersome so would put it at risk from predators. If  a mutation arose that only gave a short tail it may be able to survive longer but it wouldn't get any mates because female peacocks prefer showy tail feathers