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Male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys acting as the mountee to receive grooming in their same-sex mounts

  • 0School of Life Sciences, Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Rd, Shanghai 200241,China.
Current Zoology +

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February 25, 2025

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February 25, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys engage in same-sex mounting to gain grooming from peers. This behavior suggests a strategy for social bonding and resource acquisition within their peer group.

Area Of Science

  • Primatology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Zoology

Background

  • Same-sex mounting in male primates can serve various functions, including sexual practice and social bonding.
  • Post-mounting grooming (PMG) is a common affiliative behavior in primates, often reinforcing social relationships.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the hypothesis that male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) use same-sex mounting as a strategy to solicit grooming from peers.
  • To explore the short-term and long-term dynamics of grooming exchange following same-sex mounting in this species.

Main Methods

  • Observation of same-sex mounting behavior in a captive group of 5 male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys over 8 months.
  • Recording of mounting events, post-mounting grooming initiation (by mounter or mountee), and solicitation behaviors.
  • Analysis of grooming patterns over a one-month timeframe to assess partner preference.

Main Results

  • Only 3.74% of same-sex mounts were followed by grooming initiated by the mountee, contrasting with 45.40% initiated by the mounter.
  • Mountees were more likely to receive grooming if they solicited or were mounted for longer durations.
  • Over a month, mountees preferentially sought grooming from specific partners, indicating a long-term grooming market strategy.

Conclusions

  • Male juvenile golden snub-nosed monkeys appear to strategically use same-sex mounting to obtain grooming from peers, particularly on a long-term basis.
  • This behavior suggests a potential link between same-sex mounting and grooming market dynamics in nonhuman primates.
  • Further research with larger, free-ranging groups is recommended due to the limitations of this captive study.

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