Humans, Beavers, and Gibbons: Science Determines Who is the Most Monogamous.

According to ТСН: According to new research, in terms of monogamy, characterized by long-term relationships, humans are more similar to beavers and white-handed gibbons than to chimpanzees. Scientists compared the number of relatives and half-siblings among various mammal species.

The results of this study were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

Previously, assessing human monogamy was difficult due to cultural differences. Therefore, researchers decided to focus on the genetic relatedness of offspring. In monogamous animals, offspring typically have close relatives, while in polygamous species, half-siblings are more common.

Research Among Different Human Groups

Scientists analyzed data from 103 pre-industrial human groups – from stone-age farmers in Turkey to modern hunter-gatherers in Tanzania. The collected data were compared with information about 70 mammal species.

According to the ranking, humans rank seventh among the 11 most monogamous species, positioned between beavers (73% full siblings) and white-handed gibbons (63%). Among humans, the proportion of full siblings is 70%.

Comparison with Chimpanzees

In comparison, among chimpanzees and gorillas, this figure is only 4-6%.

It is worth noting that a feature of humans among other monogamous animals is the ability to form close bonds among females, who can have offspring simultaneously. In most monogamous species, pairs reproduce individually, or only one pair breeds at a certain time.

Thus, the findings of the study show that even in the animal kingdom, monogamy manifests differently. Humans occupy an intermediate position among different species, which may indicate the complexity of social ties and the significant influence of cultural norms. This discovery also highlights the importance of genetic research for understanding the evolutionary aspects of relationships in humans and animals.