Baboon sexual swellings and male response: a possible operational mammalian supernormal stimulus and response interaction

摘要: Experimental work using coagulated masturbatory seminal emissions from nine adult male chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)as a dependent variable revealed that males show greater sexual arousal response to female conspecifics exhibiting exaggerated perineal swellings. The menstrual cycles of the “superswollen” females did not differ in length or patterning controls. Since additional experimental work, including behavioral observations on with normal and supersized swellings, failed reveal differences proceptivity, male’s increased appears upon size per se.The males’ responses suggest swellings may be an example operational visual supernormal stimulus interaction.