Experimental evidence that female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) perceive variation in male facial masculinity.

ABSTRACT: Among many primate species, face shape is sexually dimorphic, and male facial masculinity has been proposed to influence female mate choice and male-male competition by signalling competitive ability. However, whether conspecifics pay attention to facial masculinity has only been assessed in humans. In a study of free-ranging rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta, we used a two-alternative look-time experiment to test whether females perceive male facial masculinity. We presented 107 females with pairs of images of male faces-one with a more masculine shape and one more feminine-and recorded their looking behaviour. Females looked at the masculine face longer than at the feminine face in more trials than predicted by chance. Although there was no overall difference in average look-time be

SUBMITTER: Rosenfield KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6366174 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature