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Extra‐pair Copulations in a Monogamous Gibbon (Hylobates lar)
Author(s) -
Reichard Ulrich
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1995.tb00319.x
Subject(s) - hylobates , biology , zoology , breed , ecology
This study, conducted in a rainforest in Thailand, presents the first evidence for extra‐pair copulations in white‐handed gibbons ‐ Asian apes that live in monogamous groups. The ratio of in‐pair copulations versus extra‐pair copulations as observed among three free‐ranging, well‐habituated groups was 88 versus 12 % and involved one adult paired female and three adult paired males. Extra‐pair copulations may be explained as an effort to breed with a partner of superior quality to the current mate and/or may be part of a strategy to forestall infanticide.