Are permanent male-female bonds common among nonhuman primates?

Question

Are permanent male-female bonds common among nonhuman primates?

Answer 1

A lot of primates live in harems, but I would look into Gibbons for an example of pair-bonding non-human primates.

Answer 2

There are so many species of primates. But generally, it is the group bond that is stronger than the pair bond. As humans, we tend to attach human characters and qualities to animal behavior, to determine their values. But in the animal world, it doesn't work that way. What works for the survival of the species is the value that is used.

Answer 3

Among primates the answer is no. Not even as a feature of humans.

Watch Jerry Springer if you doubt that.

Answer 4

Do birds count?

Jaysus !

Answer 5

Monogamy really is a pretty rare phenomenon--especially amongst primates. You will find some bird species that are monogamous. No, the reason anthropologists believe that monogamy arose in humans is to increase the chances of survival of the offspring--and also to have more offspring. However, because males are excluding themselves from taking on additional mates, they expect the female to remain sexually exclusive (so that paternity certainty is maintained). After all, males don't want to be excluding themselves from mates while the female is not and they also do not want to raise offspring that are not theirs. Also, monogamy in mammals can mean different things. A male of a given species MAY mate with a different partner, but return to the monogamous partner afterwards (so there may not be sexual exclusivity). But sometimes, there is sexual exclusivity--to the point where if the mate dies, the male will not reproduce for the rest of his life. You will not really find this in many nonhuman primates. A lot of primates participate in harems (1 male, many females) or a multi-male/multi-female group where a rank system is employed and a dominant male is estabilished. I hope this helps.