Comments on: Chimp noises during sex

By: iNow

iNow — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:44:03 +0000

Also, I would think it wise to avoid detection from any males around with a higher status in the group, or even just greater size.

By: CDarwin

CDarwin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:24:30 +0000

But if females are having sex with multiple males, no one is going to be able to figure out paternity anyway.

Females in chimp groups use sex to form strategic alliances. It benefits you for not everyone to know who all your allies are.

It could be elements of both, I suppose. I see a bit better where you’re coming from with the paternity angle.

By: ecoli

ecoli — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:38:45 +0000

why would another group member retaliate, unless that female chimp was ‘jealous’ that the male was mating with another female?

In that case, the mating female would probably not want anyone to know about the ongoing copulation, and therefore would not want to give any other chimp an idea of the father of the child (avoiding retaliation).

By: CDarwin

CDarwin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:24:04 +0000

I don’t see how obscuring paternity is an object here. It seems to be much more about avoiding retaliation from other group members.