Search research articles

Related Concept Videos

Mate Choice

Mate Choice

Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Reproductive failure in macaques.

American journal of primatology·2020

Same author

High-resolution chromosomes of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

American journal of primatology·2020

Same author

Brief report: Chromosomal analysis of perinatal death in Macaca mulatta and Macaca radiata.

American journal of primatology·2020

Same author

Secondary sex ratios by maternal rank, parity, and age in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

American journal of primatology·2020

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges

Published on: June 9, 2023

Promiscuity in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus).

Meredith F Small¹

¹Department of Anthropology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

American Journal of Primatology

|February 21, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Female Barbary macaques exhibit high-frequency mating with multiple males, particularly during extended estrous cycles. This promiscuous behavior is not linked to paternity confusion or social exchange, but rather male inability to prevent it.

Keywords:

female mating patterns male care of infants polygyny

More Related Videos

Laparoscopic Technique for Serial Collection of Liver and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes in Macaques

Laparoscopic Technique for Serial Collection of Liver and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes in Macaques

Published on: May 2, 2017

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges

Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges

Published on: June 9, 2023

Laparoscopic Technique for Serial Collection of Liver and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes in Macaques

Laparoscopic Technique for Serial Collection of Liver and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes in Macaques

Published on: May 2, 2017

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Area of Science:

Primatology
Ethology
Behavioral Ecology

Background:

Female Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) are often described as "promiscuous" due to mating with multiple males.
Previous research has not fully elucidated the drivers behind this mating strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mating behavior of female Barbary macaques in a semi-free-ranging colony.
To determine the factors influencing the rate and pattern of copulations.
To test hypotheses regarding paternity confusion and social exchange as explanations for promiscuity.

Main Methods:

A 9-month observational study of a semi-free-ranging colony of Barbary macaques.
Recording 506 copulations across 21 females during the breeding season.
Analyzing the correlation between estrous cycle length, number of cycles, and the number of male partners.

Main Results:

Females engaged in high-rate, indiscriminate mating, with 358 copulations occurring during extended estrous cycles.
Increased duration or frequency of estrus correlated positively with a greater number of male sexual partners.
No association was found between mating behavior and male-female friendships or infant care.

Conclusions:

Female Barbary macaque mating behavior is characterized by high rates and multiple partners, especially during prolonged estrus.
Promiscuity is not driven by the need to confuse paternity or by exchanging copulations for social benefits.
The observed mating pattern is attributed to the inability or unwillingness of males to prevent females from mating with multiple partners.