Page 156 - Demo

Chapter 7154AbstractThe selection of a mate is a decisive choice that carries substantial weight in an individual’s fitness. As a result, individuals may employ various cognitive mechanisms to navigate the mate selection process effectively. These mechanisms, such as preferential attention towards attractive conspecifics or traits, have been widely studied in humans. However, only a few studies have investigated these mechanisms in non-human primates. To address this gap, we conducted two eye-tracking experiments with four zoo-housed Bornean orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus), a species that is characterised by extreme sexual dimorphism. In both experiments, using naturalistic and controlled stimuli, we found that orang-utans exhibit an attentional bias towards males with fully developed flanges, a sexually dimorphic trait carried by some adult males. Importantly, this attentional bias was apparent in both immediate and voluntary attention. By revealing the presence of attunement towards mating-related traits in the attentional mechanisms of a great ape species, our findings not only contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the cognitive basis of mate choice but also open up avenues for future research into the interplay between mate choice and cognition in non-human primates.Based on: Roth, T. S., van Berlo, E., Perea-García, J. O., & Kret, M. E. (in preparation). Orangutans like it cheeky: Attentional bias towards flanged males in Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). Data availability statementThe datasets and materials generated and/or analysed during the current study are available via Dataverse: https://doi.org/10.34894/BU1XYRTom Roth.indd 154 08-01-2024 10:41