Anecdotal observation of a sexual encounter between two male naked mole-rats

IF 1.2 4区生物学 Q4 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Behaviour Pub Date : 2022-04-05 DOI:10.1163/1568539x-bja10162

James Gilbert, Matilda Brindle, C. G. Faulkes

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Same-sex sexual behaviours (SSBs) are widespread across the animal kingdom, yet little consensus exists regarding their potential adaptive functions or evolutionary history. To fully address questions such as why or how a trait has evolved, it is important to first understand its natural history. Here, we present evidence of SSBs in two male naked mole-rats for the first time. Due to extreme natal philopatry, most naked mole-rats never disperse, making encounters with potential mates valuable in fitness terms. However, in captive colonies of naked mole-rats, a rare disperser morph has been described. We speculate that such dispersing individuals may be indiscriminatory in their mating strategy, copulating with conspecifics regardless of sex, to counter the risk of missed reproductive opportunities. This behavioural strategy would contrast with the common characterisation of naked mole-rats, which describes them as fiercely xenophobic and hostile to unfamiliar individuals. Further, the observation of an indiscriminate mating strategy in a species with limited opportunities for dispersal provides interesting context for the study of the evolution of SSBs.

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两只雄性裸鼹鼠性接触的轶事观察

同性性行为（SSBs）在动物界广泛存在，但对于其潜在的适应功能或进化史，几乎没有达成共识。为了充分解决一种特征为什么或如何进化等问题，首先了解其自然历史是很重要的。在这里，我们首次在两只雄性裸鼹鼠身上提供了SSBs的证据。由于极端的出生习性，大多数裸鼹鼠从不分散，这使得与潜在配偶的相遇在健康方面很有价值。然而，在圈养的裸鼹鼠群落中，有人描述了一种罕见的分散体变体。我们推测，这种分散的个体可能在交配策略上没有区别，无论性别如何都与同种交配，以应对错过繁殖机会的风险。这种行为策略与裸鼹鼠的常见特征形成了鲜明对比，裸鼹鼠将其描述为强烈的仇外心理和对陌生个体的敌意。此外，在传播机会有限的物种中观察到不分青红皂白的交配策略，为研究SSBs的进化提供了有趣的背景。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Behaviour 生物-动物学

CiteScore

1.80

自引率

7.70%

发文量

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Behaviour is interested in all aspects of animal (including human) behaviour, from ecology and physiology to learning, cognition, and neuroscience. Evolutionary approaches, which concern themselves with the advantages of behaviour or capacities for the organism and its reproduction, receive much attention both at a theoretical level and as it relates to specific behavior.