Owl Monkeys Don’t Cheat
Owl Monkeys Don’t Cheat
March 19, 2014
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Image Caption: Caption: An infant owl monkey rides securely on the back of its biological father. A Penn study showed
that owl monkeys are faithful mates, and that intensive parenting by the biological father likely plays a role in this loyalty.
Credit: V. Davalos/Owl Monkey Project, Formosa-Argentina
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University of Pennsylvania
True monogamy is rare in the animal kingdom. Even in species that appear to “mate for life,” genetic maternity and paternity tests have revealed that philandering often takes place.
Yet a new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers shows that Azara’s owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) are unusually faithful. The investigation of 35 offspring born to 17 owl monkey pairs turned up no evidence of cheating; the male and female monkeys that cared for the young were the infants’ true biological parents.
An additional analysis of 15 pair-living mammals by the Penn team found a strong connection between a species’ faithfulness and significant involvement of males in caring for their young.
“Our study is the first of any primate species, and only the fourth for a pair-living mammal, to show genetic monogamy, or real faithfulness, between partners,” said study author Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, an associate professor in Penn Arts and Sciences’ Department of Anthropology. “Paternal care in owl monkeys now makes sense. The males are making a huge investment in their own offspring.”
More:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113099128/owl-monkeys-dont-cheat-031914/#3KPgVrT88ZZFGEMD.99