What specific trait inherited from ancestors allows Yokohama tail feathers to grow continuously?
Answer
Genetics that prevent the main tail feathers from molting annually
The extraordinary, continuously growing tail feathers characteristic of the male Yokohama are a direct result of genetic inheritance traced back to the *Onagadori* ancestors. The critical mechanism is the suppression or complete prevention of the annual molt cycle for the main tail feathers. Since these feathers are not shed and replaced each year as is typical for most poultry, they accumulate length over the bird's lifetime, leading to the spectacular, trailing plumage sometimes observed on highly specialized specimens, which in ideal situations can reach lengths upwards of ten feet.
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