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Men and women alike do all sorts of things to attract the perfect mate. Some aspire to riches; others focus on grooming. And the latest study shows that even personality matters. "Adventurous females choose mates with similar personalities, regardless of the male's appearance and other assets," found a University of Exeter study. The study looked at birds, but it joins similar findings for a bunch of other species. If our feathered friends even care about what's inside, humans probably do, too, surmises researcher Dr. Sasha Hall. "This is strong evidence that females care about the apparent personality of their male independently of his appearance. We have the first evidence that it is important for partners to have compatible personalities in the mating game. This is something we would probably all agree is the case for humans." Personality isn't the only thing that matters. At least not according to science. It's found that all sorts of characteristics can attract a significant other. So before you lurch out into the dating world, prepare.

The ideal dude: