2005•Annual Review of Sex ResearchOpen access

Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Visually Conspicuous Sexually Dimorphic Traits in Male Monkeys, Apes, and Human Beings

Alan F. Dixson, Barnaby Dixson, Matthew J. Anderson

Abstract

Striking secondary sexual traits, such as brightly colored "sexual skin," capes of hair, beards, and other facial adornments occur in adult males of many anthropoid primate species. This review focuses upon the role of sexual selection in the evolution of these traits. A quantitative approach is used to measure sexually dimorphic characters and to compare their development in the monogamous, polygynous, and multimale-multifemale mating systems of monkeys, apes, and human beings.

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Key concepts: Sexual dimorphism, Polygyny, Sexual selection, Biology, Mating, Primate, Mating system, Zoology