Gay mobkey
Scientists discover gay behaviors are not only common in male monkeys, but may give them an evolutionary edge
Gay sex — some humans do it, some penguins do it, and as it turns out, many monkeys do it. It's only natural, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution,
By watching a group of rhesus macaques over a three year period in Puerto Rico, scientists from the Imperial College of London found it was more common for the males to engage in sex with the matching gender than with the opposite.
The researchers reported 72% of the 236 male monkeys either mounted, or were mounted, by other males, whereas only 46% participated in heterosexual sex.
There have been many alternative theories — including not enough females, establishing rule, or blowing off steam — that may elucidate why animals might hire in homosexual behavior.
But the researchers believe their observations actually support a whole new theory — that the males who possess sex together have an evolutionary advantage over their heterosexual counterparts.
Male bisexual monkeys have an evolutionary edge
The male monkeys who had sex with each other often backed up their
Over the past not many decades, American community has increased its tolerance and acceptance of differing sexualities. Those that voice opposition to acceptance of homosexuality on religious grounds often consider homosexuality to be “unnatural.” However, homosexual behavior is widespread across the animal kingdom. In addition to well-known examples such as in mammals and birds, homosexual behaviors occur in reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Among the primate order, lgbtq+ behavior is most frequently observed in bonobos. However, it also occurs in other species, such as Japanese macaques and capuchin monkeys. Recent observations of homosexual behavior in male spider monkeys adds to our knowledge of these behaviors and may help us respond questions about the evolutionary functions lgbtq+ behaviors may compete , as well as allow us to consider if other animals have sexual orientations similar to the identities that humans construct.
Within the protected reserve of Otoch Ma’ax Yetel Kooh, Mexico, primatologists have been continuously collecting data for over 20 years on two social groups of Geoffroy’s spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Over the years, they’ve documente