Why do hot pepper plants exist? Wouldn’t it have been an evolutionary disadvantage to have fruits that were painful for animals to eat?

Question

Why do hot pepper plants exist? Wouldn’t it have been an evolutionary disadvantage to have fruits that were painful for animals to eat?

In: Biology

Answer 1

In general, animals who can digest the seeds don’t like spice, while animals who spread the seeds aren’t affected by it. That’s the evolutionary advantage.