title: The biogeography and evolution of female homosexual behavior in Japanese macaques.
abstract: In certain Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) populations, females routinely engage in same-sex courtship, mounting, and consortship activity. Drawing on behavioral, biogeographic, and genetic research, we suggest that female homosexual behavior may be associated with genetically distinct free-ranging populations of Japanese macaques. In addition, we briefly discuss the implications of this research for the evolution of female homosexual behavior in this species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada. paul.vasey@uleth.ca
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Vasey
authors.forename: Hester
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiskoot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D008251:Macaca / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*