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Age differences in the duration of mating periods of female rhesus monkeys
Author(s) -
Wilson Mark E.,
Gordon Thomas P.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420130610
Subject(s) - mating , duration (music) , physiology , biology , zoology , psychology , art , literature
Examination of the patterns of mating behavior exhibited by 27 sexually‐mature female rhesus monkeys housed in a social group in an outdoor compound revealed that younger animals (3.5–4.5 years) exhibited significantly longer periods of sexual activity than did older animals (5.5 years and older). Observed sexual activity in all age groups was largely confined to discrete periods associated with an ovulatory cycle and typically resulted in pregnancy. Related findings suggest that differences in patterns of sexual behavior may be related to variations in estrogen secretion or sensitivity to estrogen, both of which show age‐related changes. Additionally, these findings underscore the importance of documenting behavioral and endocrine changes in reproductive function across the full life span of the mature subject.