SOCIAL RANK, OBSERVABILITY, AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF RHESUS MONKEYS ( MACACA MULATTA )

Author:
  • LDL. C. Drickamer
    L. C. Drickamer
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary.: The observation that high-ranking male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) mate more frequently than low-ranking monkeys in a social group is based on the assumption that all males are equally visible to the human observer. The frequency of mating activity in freeranging social bands of rhesus monkeys in the La Parguera, Puerto Rico colony, when corrected for the observability of males, revealed no significant differences in the performance of sexual behaviour by males of differing social ranks. These results fail to support the conclusion that high-ranking male monkeys engage in a disproportionately higher number of sexual acts in a social group.