Adult Male Baboon Guarding a Fertile Female (IMAGE)

U.S. National Science Foundation

Adult Male Baboon Guarding a Fertile Female

Caption

An adult male mate-guarding a fertile female (note the sexual swelling) during a sexual consortship. Successful mate guarding allows the male to maintain exclusive access and to obtain any fertilizations. This involves the male following the female closely, being vigilant and fighting off any males that might disrupt the consortship.

Credit

Jeanne Altmann, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Dept., Princeton University

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.