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Same-Sex Sexual Behavior, Age-Class, and Coalitions in Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
1, Leipzig, Germany. brind1998@gmail.com.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|September 3, 2024
Summary
Male rhesus macaques engage in extensive same-sex sexual behavior (SSB), particularly involving non-adults. Age-class significantly influences SSB, revealing links to bonding and coalitions.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Ethology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Same-sex sexual behavior (SSB) is prevalent in many primate species, including rhesus macaques.
- Previous analyses often excluded non-adult individuals, limiting understanding of SSB across age classes.
- Age-class is a critical factor in primate social dynamics and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-analyze existing data on male rhesus macaque SSB, incorporating age-class as a key variable.
- To investigate the relationships between SSB, age-class, and coalitional behavior.
- To determine the extent of non-adult involvement in SSB and its motivations.
Main Methods:
- Re-analysis of 995 mounting events from data previously reported by Clive et al. (2023).
- Inclusion of juvenile and adolescent individuals, previously excluded from analysis.
- Examination of SSB dyads, mounter motivations, and the context of coalitional behavior.
Main Results:
- Non-adults (juveniles and adolescents) comprised 51% of SSB participants and were present in 76% of dyads.
- Younger and prime adult males most frequently mounted non-adults.
- Sexual motivation was common across all age classes, with higher rates for adolescents (72%).
- The highest incidence of SSB within a coalitional context occurred in adolescent-adult dyads with repeated interactions.
Conclusions:
- Age-class is a crucial variable for understanding male same-sex sexual behavior in rhesus macaques.
- SSB in male rhesus macaques is linked to social bonding, friendships, and coalition formation.
- Incorporating age-class provides a more comprehensive explanation of SSB dynamics in primate societies.
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