Male Mate Choice in Captive Stump-Tailed Macaques (Macaca Arctoides)

Abstract

In order to determine the factors influencing male mating choice in captive stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides), the group composition was manipulated in which confounding social context were controlled. Each adult male was given the opportunity to mate with any of the estrous female during the mating season between September 2010 and February 2011. Number of successful copulation between adult male and each female was used as a proxy for male mating choice. The number of successful copulation received by each female was found to be positively correlated with the female sexual attractivity. No significant correlation was found between the number of successful copulation received by the females and their dominance status, reproductive success and ages. Social interaction between adult male and female did not seem to influence the male mating choice. Sexual swelling has no influenced on the male mating choice and it was suggested to be a developmental stage of sexual skins among stump-tailed macaque females. Despite the lack of proximate explanation, females with bright red genital skin colour were found to be more attractive than females with paler and darker genital skin colour.