New research has revealed that orangutans might be just as picky as humans when it comes to choosing a mate. Scientists used eye trackers and touchscreens to study mate preferences and discovered that female orangutans are particularly drawn to males with larger cheek flanges.
Female orangutans were shown photos of dominant and non-dominant males. A camera measured the amount of time their eyes fixed on the images. As expected, the images of dominant males appeared to attract more attention. However, there could be other factors at play…
It was unclear whether the orangutans were looking at dominant males out of attraction or vigilance. Although aesthetic attraction does play a big role in orangutans’ mate choice, more research is needed into the emotions of these great apes, to help us fully decode their complex dating lives!
This study sheds light on the complex world of orangutan relationships. Yet, it highlights how much more we have to learn, in order to protect wild populations.
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