Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual behavior of captive orangutans

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Opposite-sex pairs of orangutans were tested for sexual behavior during the intermenstrual period of the female. The male orangutan was the primary initiator of sexual interactions and initiated copulation forcefully on a daily basis, irrespective of female resistance. However, although single copulations occurred daily, copulations beyond the first occurred most frequently during midcycle. Other evidence of cyclicity in behavior was the midcycle decrease in female avoidance of the male and increased grooming, proceptivity, and masturbation by the female. Comparative analysis suggests that differences in sexual cyclicity among the great ape species are related to interspecies differences in sexual assertiveness of males and females. Sexual activity in the cycle is relatively brief when the female controls mating, more prolonged when the male is in control. This finding in man's closest taxonomic affiliates suggests that similar social factors may also influence the distribution of sexual interactions in the human cycle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asano, M. (1967). A note on the birth and rearing of an orang-utan at Tama Zoo, Tokyo.Int. Zoo Yearbook 7: 95–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beach, F. A. (1942). Central nervous mechanisms involved in the reproductive behavior of vertebrates.Psychol. Bull. 39: 200–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaffee, P. S. (1967). A note on the breeding of orang-utans at Fresno Zoo.Int. Zoo Yearbook 7: 94–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffey, P. F. (1972). Breeding Sumatran orang-utanPongo pygmaeous abelii Lesson 1827.Ann. Rep. Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, pp. 15–17.

  • Coffey, P. F. (1975). Sexual cyclicity in captive orang-utansPongo pygmaeus with some notes on sexual behavior.Ann. Rep. Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, pp. 54–55.

  • Crook, J. H., and Gartlan, J. S. (1966). Evolution of primate societies.Nature 210: 1200–1203.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, H. (1929). The birth of two anthropoid apes.J. Mammal. 10: 37–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham-Jones, O., and Hill, W. C. O. (1962). Pregnancy and parturition in a Bornean orang.Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 139: 503–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrichs, W. L., and Dillingham, L. A. (1970). Bornean orang-utan twins born in captivity.Folia Primatol. 13: 150–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hess, J. P. (1973). Some observations on the sexual behavior of captive lowland gorillas,Gorilla g. gorilla (Savage and Wyman). In Michael, R. P., and Crook, J. H. (eds.),Comparative Ecology and Behaviour of Primates Academic Press, New York, pp. 508–581.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horr, D. A. (1975). The Borneo orang-utan: Population structure and dynamics in relationship to ecology and reproductive strategy. In Rosenblum, L. A. (ed.),Primate Behavior: Developments in Field and Laboratory Research, Vol. 4, Academic Press, New York, pp. 307–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippert, W. (1974). Beobachtungen zum Schwangerschaftsund Geburtsverhalten beim Orang-utan(Pongo pygmaeus) im tierpark Berlin.Folia Primatol. 21: 108–134.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon, J. R. (1971). The orang-utan in Sabah today.Oryx 11: 141–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon, J. R. (1974). The behaviour and ecology of wild orang-utans(Pongo pygmaeus).Anim. Behav. 22: 3–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. H. (1936). The role of dominance in the social and sexual behavior of infrahuman primates. I. Observations at Vilas Park Zoo.J. Gen. Psychol. 48: 261–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, W. A., and Lott, D. F. (1976). Ethology and comparative psychology.Ann. Rev. Psychol. 27: 129–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, R. D. (1975a). Cyclicity in tumescence of the perineal labia of female lowland gorillas.Anat. Rec. 181: 791–798.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, R. D. (1975b). Sexual cyclicity in captive lowland gorillas.Science 189: 813–814.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, R. D. (1976). Sexual behavior of captive lowland gorillas.Arch. Sex. Behav. 5: 487–502.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, R. D. (1977). Sexual behavior of the chimpanzee in relation to the gorilla and orangutan. In Bourne, G. H. (ed.),Progress in Ape Research Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Napier, J. R., and Napier, P. H. (1967).A Handbook of Living Primates Academic Press, London, 456 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijksen, H. D. (1975). Social structure in a wild orang-utan population in Sumatra. In Kondo, S., Kawai, M., and Ehara, A. (eds.),Contemporary Primatology Karger, Basel, pp. 373–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman, P. S. (1973). Population composition and adaptive organisation among orangutans of the Kutai Reserve. In Michael, R. P., and Crook, J. H. (eds.),Comparative Ecology and Behaviour of Primates Academic Press, London, pp. 171–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumbaugh, D. M. (1970). Learning skills of anthropoids. In Rosenblum, L. A. (ed.),Primate Behavior: Developments in Field and Laboratory Research, Vol. 1, Academic Press, New York, pp. 1–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage, E. S., and Bakeman, R. (1977). Comparative observations on sexual behavior inPan paniscus andPan troglodytes. In Chivers, D. J. (ed.),Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 1:Primate Behaviour, Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaller, G. B. (1963).The Mountain Gorilla University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 431 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tratz, E., and Heck, H. (1954). Der Africkanische Anthropoide “Bonobo,” eine neue Menschenaffengattung.Saugetierk. Mitt. 2: 97–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tutin, C. E. G. (1975). Exceptions to promiscuity in a feral chimpanzee community. In Kondo, S., Kawai, M., and Ehara, A. (eds.),Contemporary Primatology Karger, Basel, pp. 445–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udry, J. R., and Morris, N. (1968). Distribution of coitus in the menstrual cycle.Nature 220: 593–596.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yerkes, R. M. (1939). Sexual behavior in the chimpanzee.Hum. Biol. 11: 78–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yerkes, R. M., and Elder, J. H. (1936a). Oestrus, receptivity, and mating in chimpanzee.Comp. Psychol. Monogr. 13: 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yerkes, R. M., and Elder, J. H. (1936b). The sexual and reproductive cycles of chimpanzee.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 22: 276–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, W. C. (1961). The hormones and mating behavior. In Young, W. C. (ed.),Sex and Internal Secretions, Vol. 2, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp. 1173–1239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, W. C., and Orbison, W. D. (1944). Changes in selected features of behavior in pairs of oppositely sexed chimpanzees during the sexual cycle and after ovariectomy.J. Comp. Psychol. 37: 107–143.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, 30322, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Ronald D. Nadler Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Ronald D. Nadler Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by NSF Grant BMS 75-06287 and PHS Grant RR-00165 from NIH.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nadler, R.D. Sexual behavior of captive orangutans. Arch Sex Behav 6, 457–475 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541151

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541151

Key words

Search

Navigation