Female-directed Male Aggression in Wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | K Y Slater C M Schaffner F Aureli |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, University of Chester, Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK;(2) Research Department, Operation Wallacea Trust, Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK;(3) Research Centre for Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK |
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Abstract: | Male spider monkeys direct the majority of their aggression toward adult females, and the aggressive interactions may be a
form of sexual coercion. We investigated female-directed male aggression in 2 wild communities of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis) from the Otoch Ma’ax Yetel Kooh Reserve in Yucatan, Mexico to evaluate the sexual coercion hypothesis. The aggression occurred
in 2 distinct forms: physical aggression and prolonged noncontact chases. The latter appeared highly ritualized in nature
and accounted for >80% of all female-directed male aggression. Rates of prolonged chases, but not physical aggression, peaked
when the female target was likely cycling and were associated with male place-sniffing of the substrate previously occupied
by the female target. Prolonged chases were also associated with proceptive behavior directed from the female target toward
her male attacker after the chase had ceased. Our data therefore suggest that prolonged chases are sexually motivated. Prolonged
chases did not result in immediate copulation, but sometimes the female victim left the subgroup to travel alone with her
male aggressor, and thus prolonged chases may be a form of male intimidation to coerce females into a mating consortship.
However, as prolonged chases appeared highly ritualized, the chases may also be a form of male sexual display. Further investigation
of the costs incurred by female recipients of prolonged chases is therefore required before one can interpret the behavior
as sexual coercion. |
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Keywords: | aggression female mate choice sexual coercion sexual display spider monkey |
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