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Do capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) prefer symmetrical face shapes?
Annika Paukner1, Lauren J Wooddell1, Carmen E Lefevre2
1Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|February 10, 2017
Summary
Male capuchin monkeys prefer symmetrical faces of other males, suggesting facial symmetry signals male quality for competition. Female capuchins showed no preference for facial symmetry.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Primatology
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Facial symmetry in humans correlates with genetic quality and attractiveness.
- Evolutionary pressures may favor facial symmetry in other primate species.
- Research on nonhuman primate sensitivity to facial symmetry is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) exhibit visual preferences for facial symmetry.
- To test if facial symmetry influences social perception in nonhuman primates.
Main Methods:
- Presented symmetrical and asymmetrical images of human and conspecific faces to capuchin monkeys.
- Recorded visual attention patterns in response to facial stimuli.
Main Results:
- Male capuchins preferentially attended to symmetrical male conspecific faces.
- Female capuchins did not discriminate between symmetrical and asymmetrical faces.
- No preference was observed for symmetrical human faces in either sex.
Conclusions:
- Facial symmetry may serve as an indicator of male quality in tufted capuchin monkeys.
- Male capuchins might use symmetry to assess rivals in intraspecific competition.
- Female capuchins' lack of preference suggests different mate choice criteria or symmetry's role.
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