Gay ape
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The new research explores same-sex relationships across a wide range of mammals. Chimpanzees, humans' more violent cousins, do not seem to use sex in this way. They compiled information about sociality (how the animals live together) and aggression between members of the same species, and tested for correlations with male or female same-sex sexual behaviour.
The study found same-sex sexual behaviour, both male and female, was more common in more social species.
A group of Spanish researchers have studied same-sex sexual behaviour and social relationships in more than 250 species of mammals – and in a recent paper in Nature Communications, they conclude it arose independently many times, and is related to other kinds of social behaviour.
Darwin’s paradox
Research has shown the basis of male homosexuality in humans is at least partially genetic.
These benefits are not necessarily the same in different mammal lineages, and may include others that have not yet been investigated. This supports the hypothesis that homosexuality evolved to mitigate male–male aggression in mammals.
We conclude from this study that same-sex sexual behaviour in both males and females evolved as species shifted from solitary living to sociality.
There were no adult bonobos to "teach" them sexual behavior.
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By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Sex for fun in bonobos, and many other animals, plays a social function.
They are more cooperative than chimpanzees. There is stress-relief sex, make-up sex and random hook-up sex. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. It is very widespread. They occasionally torture each other, kill strangers and demonstrate other echoes of humanity's dark side. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science.
Homosexual Behavior
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Hover over keys for definitions:What is MOCA?
MOCA FAQ...
Human Uniqueness Compared to "Great Apes":
Relative Difference
MOCA Domain:
Behavior
Homosexual behavior has been reported in all of the Great Apes, for both males and females, adults and juveniles, in captivity and in the wild, although exclusive engagement in homosexual behavior may be unique to humans.
Fifty-one species, from lemurs to great apes, show same-sex sexual behaviour.
The even bigger picture is given by studies on many other animals, which reveal same-sex behaviour in birds, reptiles, frogs and fish, as well as many invertebrates.
Most studies of same-sex relationships focus on a particular species, which makes it hard to test these competing hypotheses.
Homosexual contacts in primates can include ventro-dorsal and ventro-ventral mounting, genito-genital (g-g) rubbing, manual-genital contact, and oral-genital contact, and may also be accompanied by penile erection and ejaculation, as well as female orgasm.
Universality in Human Populations:
Homosexual behavior is likely universal in human populations.
The distribution of same-sex behaviour over all mammals didn’t fit the pattern we would expect if it were present in the common ancestor of all mammals, and was retained in some lineages but not others.
Read more: Homosexuality may have evolved for social, not sexual reasons
A better explanation for the evidence is that same-sex sexual behaviour was rare in mammalian ancestors overall, but evolved independently many times in many different families.
Woods and Hare are on the board of the nonprofit Lola ya Bonobo, a sanctuary for orphan bonobos in Congo. These species represent about half of all mammal families.
Primates are strongly represented. Bonobo sex looks human. In this case, though gay males have fewer children, their female relatives who share these gene variants may be more inclined to mate earlier and have more children, making up the deficit.
They were orphans of the bushmeat trade, and were born in the wild. If this is so, we would expect same-sex behaviour to be more common in species where aggression and killing among members is also common. They share food. This suggests same-sex sexual behaviour was selected for in social species.
The frequency of male, but not female, same-sex sexual behaviour was also correlated with the frequency with which animals of the same sex attacked and killed each other.
One idea is that same-sex relationships are important for forming and maintaining bonds and alliances within the group.