The post-copulation withdrawal response in female baboons: A functional analysis |
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Authors: | Sanjida M O’Connell Guy Cowlishaw |
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Institution: | (1) Present address: 77 Westwick Gardens, W14 OBS W. Kensington, England;(2) Present address: Department of Biology, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, England |
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Abstract: | Rapid withdrawal of females from males at the end of the copulatory sequence (prior to male dismounting) characterizes several
primate species. The purpose of this paper is to make a preliminary investigation into possible functional aspects of these
“copulatory darts.” Two hypotheses are proposed; (1) females use darts to aid competing males to locate the source of copulation
calls; and (2) females dart in order to promote re-mating with the same male. Both hypotheses postulate that darts may thus
enhance male-male competition, although acquisition of other benefits may be the primary drive to darting according to the
re-mating hypothesis. Using data from 157 copulations collected from six females spread across four groups in a wild population
of chacma baboonsPapio cynocephalus ursinus, darting behaviour is described. Within females, darting distance is highly variable. Darting distance is greatest at the
time of ovulation (and maximal sexual swelling), and there is some evidence that darting may also be more frequent, and cover
greater distances, when the mating male is adult rather than juvenile. While darting behaviour appears unrelated to the presence
or absence of ejaculation, it tends to correlate positively with the duration of the female copulation call. These preliminary
results are consistent with a mediating role in male-male competition and therefore provide support for both hypotheses. |
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Keywords: | Baboons Darting Reproduction Competition |
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