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Sex differences in the behaviour of immature captive lowland gorillas

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Abstract

Studies of the behaviour of 26 (12 males and 14 females) captive infant and juvenile lowland gorillas showed clear sex differences. Females showed greater interest in young infants and were more active in nest building as well as in solitary and social grooming. Males were more active in locomotive, dominance, and aggressive behaviour and in social play. Hand-rearing further increased aggression. Males were more aggressive when they lived with only one partner, and they rose in rank even above older females, a pattern that has not been observed in naturally reared gorillas.

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  1. Angela Meder

    Present address: , Eduard-Pfeiffer-Strasse 54, 7000, Stuttgart 1, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. Zoological Garden of Frankfurt and University of Heidelberg, Germany

    Angela Meder

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Meder, A. Sex differences in the behaviour of immature captive lowland gorillas. Primates 31, 51–63 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381029

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