German researchers working in Africa (the Ivory Coast) have determined that female chimpanzees mate more often with males who share their meals with them, specifically meat.
The scientists, from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, believe that the females "reward" the males with long-term sexual relationships as long as they keep bringing on the food. (This somewhat monogamous behavior is unusual, because chimps are usually pretty promiscuous.)
Why? Their guess is that the "girls" are impressed because they recognize that hunting down meat is dangerous work.
(Source: Reuters)
Monday, May 4, 2009
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