Mick Jagger with his statuesque wife L'Wrenn ScottThe phrase "size matters" might more commonly be attributed to women. But if science is to be believed, it's the male of the species that believes bigger is better.

Okay, so this latest piece of research is based on seahorses, but the boffins insist that it could well be true of humans too.

For the tiny male seahorse, it seems that happiness comes in big packages. The females on the other hand are content with all sizes and shapes.

Researchers at the University of Zurich revealed that, in the world of the pot-bellied seahorse, it is the boys that get to pick the girls. And they're basing their choices on the size of the female.

Scientists believe this preference is down to a larger female's ability to produce more eggs and healthier young.
It is thought that this kind of sexual behaviour is common to other species and a further study will begin later this month at Sea Life centres across Europe.

Paul Bullimore, a Sea Life marine expert, believes that the same may have been true of ancient humans where a larger lady would have indicated breeding stock.

But he told the Independent: "The Swiss findings lend weight to our own discovery, suggesting that a male is only likely to stick with the same female until a bigger female comes along."

Sounds about right... just look at Mick Jagger.