Skip to main content
Log in

Sexual dimorphism, socionomic sex ratio and body weight in primates

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

BECAUSE the primates are a particularly well studied group they provide a rare opportunity to investigate the adaptive significance of species differences in sexual dimorphism in body size. We describe here an investigation of the relationship between the degree of sexual dimorphism and three variables which are predicted might affect it.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lack, D. Ecological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds (Methuen, London, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ralls, K. Q. Rev. Biol. 51, 245–275 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Darwin, C. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex (Murray, London, 1871).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Trivers, R. L. in Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man (ed. Campbell, B.) (Aldine, Chicago, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wilson, E. O. Sociobiology, the New Synthesis (Belknap, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Geist, V. Mountain Sheep (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jenni, D. A. Am. Zool. 14, 129–144 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Selander, R.W. in Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man (ed. Campbell, B.) (Aldine, Chicago 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bourlière, F. in Small Mammals, their Productivity and Population Dynamics (eds Golley, F. B., Petrusewicz, K. & Ryszkowski, L.) (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wiley, R. H. Q. Rev. Biol. 49, 201–227 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Crook, J. H. Behav. Suppl. 10, 1–178 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jarman, P. J. Behaviour 48, 215–267 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Geist, V. Am. Zool. 14, 205–220 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Crook, J. H. in Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man (ed. Campbell, B.) (Aldine, Chicago, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gautier-Hion, A. Mammalia 39, 365–374 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Clutton-Brock, T. H. & Harvey, P. H. in Growing Points in Ethology (eds Bateson, P. P. G. & Hinde, R. A.) (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Clutton-Brock, T. H. & Harvey, P. H. J. Zool. 183, 1–39 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Clutton-Brock, T. H. & Harvey, P. H. in Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding and Ranging Behaviour in Lemurs, Monkeys and Apes (ed Clutton-Brock, T. H.) (Academic, London, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rowell, T. E. Behav. Biol. 11, 131–154 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bailey, N. T. J. Statistical Methods in Biology (English Universities Press, London. 1964).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  21. Rensch, B. Evolution Above the Species Level (Methuen, London, 1959).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Selander, R. K. Condor 68, 113–151.

  23. Rensch, B. Bonner Zool. Beitr. 1, 58–69.

  24. Maynard Smith, J. Anim. Behav. 25, 1–9.

  25. Bell, R. H. V. Sci. Am. 225, 86–93 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. MacArthur, R. H. Geographical Ecology (Harper and Row, New York, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  27. MacArthur, R. H. & Wilson, E. O. The Theory of Island Biogeography (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yom Tov, Y. & Ollason, T. G. Oikos 27, 81–85 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lack, D. Ecological Isolation in Birds (Blackwells, Oxford, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kleiber, M. The Fire of Life (Wiley, New York, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Janis, C. Evolution 30, 757–774 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Clutton-Brock, T. H. in Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding and Ranging Behaviour in Lemurs, Monkeys and Apes (ed. Clutton-Brock, T. H.) (Academic, London, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ralls, K. Am. Nat. (in the press).

  34. Downhower, J. F. Nature 263, 558–563 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CLUTTON-BROCK, T., HARVEY, P. & RUDDER, B. Sexual dimorphism, socionomic sex ratio and body weight in primates. Nature 269, 797–800 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269797a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269797a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation