Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

Scientists who have recognized that sexual pleasure (or related aspects such as sexual arousal, gratification, or libido, and/or sexual, affectionate, or “erotic” attraction) may play a significant role in homosexual and /or heterosexual interactions include: primates (Wolfe, “Human Evolution and the Sexual Behavior of Female Primates,” p. 144; Vasey, “Homosexual Behavior in Primates,” p. 196); Bonobo (Kano 1992:195-96, 1990:66; Thompson-Handler et al. 1984; de Waal 1995:45—46, 1997:1,4,104, 111, 158); Orang-utan (Maple 1980: 158—59); Rhesus Macaque (Hamilton 1914:317-18; Akers and Conaway 1979:78-79; Erwin and Maple 1976:13); Japanese Macaque (Vasey 1996); Stumptail Macaque (Chevalier-Skolnikoff 1976:525); Killer Whale (Rose 1992:116-17); Gray Whale (Darling 1978:60; 1977:10); Northern Elephant Seal (Rose et al. 1991:186); African Elephant (Buss 1990:20); Silver Gull (Mills 1994:57—58); Laughing Gull (Hand 1981:139-40); Sage Grouse (Scott 1942:495). See also M. O’Neil’s and J. D. Paterson’s replies to Small (Small, M. F. (1988) “Female Primate Sexual Behavior and Conception: Are There Really Sperm to Spare?” pp. 91-92, Current Anthropology 29:81—100), and P. Vasey’s recent comments in Adler, T. (1996) “Animals’ Fancies: Why Members of Some Species Prefer Their Own Sex,” Science News 151:8-9.

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Birkhead, T. (1995) “The Birds in the Trees Do It,” BBC Wildlife 13(2):46-50; Brown-headed Cowbird (Rothstein et al. 1986:127-28).

156

For some specific examples, see Marais 1922/1969:196-97 (Savanna Baboon); Fradrich 1965:379 (Warthog); Greenhall 1965:450 (Vampire Bat); Kear 1972:85-86 (Swans); Kharitonov and Zubakin 1984:103 (Black-headed Gull), Coulson and Thomas 1985:20 (Kittiwake); Nuechterlein and Storer 1989:341 (Grebes); Székely et al., “An Evolutionary Approach to Offspring Desertion in Birds,” pp. 272—73.

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Common Murre (Birkhead and Nettleship 1984:2123-25).

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Virtually any of the references provided in the preceding notes will offer a sense of the ongoing debate and confusion about the “function” of each of these phenomena. For further examples, see: Adoption—Hansen, T. F. (1995) “Does Adoption Make Evolutionary Sense?” Animal Behavior 51: 474-75.

Nonreproductive copulations—Hatchwell 1988 (Common Murre); Small, “Female Primate Sexual Behavior and Conception.”

Multiple copulations—Gowaty, P. A. (1996) “Battles of the Sexes and Origins of Monogamy,” in J. M. Black, ed., Partnerships in Birds: The Study of Monogamy, pp. 21-52 (Oxford: Oxford University Press); Hunter, F. M., M. Petrie, M. Otronen, T. Birkhead, and A. P. Møller (1993) “Why Do Females Copulate Repeatedly With One Male?” Trends in Ecology and Evolution 8:21-26; Petrie, M. (1992) “Copulation Behavior in Birds: Why Do Females Copulate More Than Once with the Same Male?” Animal Behavior 44:790-92.

Infanticide—Hrdy, S. B., C. Janson, and C. van Schaik (1994/1995) “Infanticide: Let’s Not Throw Out the Baby with the Bath Water,” Evolutionary Anthropology 3:151-54; Sussman, R. W., J. M. Cheverud, and T. Q. Bartlett (1984/1985) “Infant Killing as an Evolutionary Strategy: Reality or Myth?” Evolutionary Anthropology 3:149-51; Small, “Female Primate Sexual Behavior and Conception.”

Sex segregation (including migratory)—Miquelle et al. 1992 (Moose); Myers, J. P. (1981) “A Test of Three Hypotheses for Latitudinal Segregation of the Sexes in Wintering Birds,” Canadian Journal of Zoology 59:1527-34; Stewart and DeLong 1995 (Northern Elephant Seal).

Masturbation—Baker, R. R., and M. A. Bellis (1993) “Human Sperm Competition (Ejaculate Adjustment by Males and the Function of Masturbation,” Animal Behavior 46:861-85; Wikelski, M., and S. Bäurle (1996) “Pre-Copulatory Ejaculation Solves Time Constraints During Copulations in Marine Iguanas,” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 263:439-44.