title: Courtship behaviour in Japanese macaques during heterosexual and homosexual consortships.
abstract: Female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in the Arashiyama population near Kyoto, Japan, are unusual, in that they exhibit what many would consider to be male-typical sexual characteristics. Specifically, they mount other females within the context of temporary, but exclusive, sexual relationships (i.e., homosexual consortships) and they sometimes exhibit a preference for female sexual partners, even when given the choice of a sexually motivated male alternative. In this study, we examined whether female Japanese macaques also exhibited male-typical patterns of courtship behaviour during homosexual consortships. Data were collected on courtship behaviour during heterosexual and homosexual consortships in free-ranging Japanese macaques from the Arashiyama (Japan) population. We analyzed the occurrence of 12 different courtship behaviours during 3374 heterosexual inter-mount intervals and 1412 homosexual inter-mount intervals. Sex differences between heterosexually consorting males and females existed for only two of the 12 courtship behaviours we investigated: inclined-back presentations and sexual vocalizations. Dominant and subordinate homosexually consorting females were sex-typical in their expression of inclined-back presentations and sexual vocalizations. Consequently, facultative same-sex sexual partner preference, mounting and consortships do not co-occur with male-typical patterns of courtship behaviour in female Japanese macaques.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada. paul.vasey@uleth.ca
authors: P L
authors: PL
authors: Vasey
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Rains
authors: D P
authors: DP
authors: VanderLaan
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Duckworth
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Kovacovsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D008251:Macaca / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*