Monkey Clue To Male Sex Appeal

BBC ^ | 7-23-2003 | Helen Briggs

[blam]

Monkey clue to male sex appeal

By Helen Briggs
BBC News Online science reporter

Rosy cheeks seem to be crucial in the dating game, for monkeys at least. Females of a common primate, the rhesus macaque, prefer males with red faces, a study has shown.

Females preferred the face on the right It signals high levels of testosterone which, in many male animals, mean a healthy immune system and good genes.

A rosy glow might also act as a similar cue in humans, says lead author Corri Waitt of Stirling University, UK.

It could explain why women apply cosmetics to get red cheeks and lips, she speculates.

"Non-human primates have the brightest colouration among mammals in the animal kingdom," says Ms Waitt, a researcher in the department of psychology.

"Nobody really knows why - but it could play a role in competition with other males or female mate choice.

"We have found that the females do seem to be interested in the bright colouration."

Darwinian roots

The theory that female primates are attracted by male colouration is, in itself, nothing new - it was first postulated by the great naturalist Charles Darwin in 1876.

But this is the first experimental evidence in support of the idea in non-human primates, say the British researchers.

The team used a computer to manipulate images of 24 wild adult male rhesus macaques.

They tested pale and red versions of the faces on six female macaques kept in captivity and measured their response.

The females spent much longer looking at the red faces and used gestures such as lip-smacking to show their interest.

'Honest reflection'

Craig Roberts, a biologist at the University of Newcastle, says it raises the possibility that cues in facial appearance may play a similar role in humans.

"The trick for the female is to pick the male with good quality genes," he says.

"The difficulty is in what physical trait displays that underlying genetic quality.

"It seems that red colouration - which is difficult to maintain in poor health - gives an honest reflection of the male's underlying genes and healthiness."

The research is published in Biology Letters, a journal of the Royal Society

Rhesus macaque image courtesy of the University of Stirling/Royal Society.

[blam]

Go to the BBC site for more.

[Cicero]

Women prefer Communists?

[cajungirl]

Note to self:,,,use a little less rouge. I think they even call rouge something else now. Gee, sunburned men always kind of appealed to me. Husband is a redhead and he blushes, one of the few men I ever knew who blushes,,,I find it utterly captivating!

[Zavien Doombringer]

Isn't rouge used to make a base in Jambalaya?

[Diamond]

Note to self:,,,use a little more rouge.

Cordially,

[ClearCase_guy]

So men with rosacea have an advantage with the ladies?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Now I understand the Kennedy mystique, gin blossoms!

[monocle]

Could this have been Al Gore's motive when at one of the debates he had an excessive amount of makeup applied?

[D. Brian Carter]

I have a tendency to blush, as well, and I absolutely hate it. But for some reason, some ladies do find it "cute", "adorable", "sweet"... If only they knew I'm not as bashful as I may look! LOL....

[cajungirl]

roux darling, roux!! I have a fantasy about men who blush,,I think they are thinking really dirty thoughts about me,,maybe that is why I find them charming. So guys, tell the girls you hate it when you have such thoughts that you blush and they will drive you crazy beggiing you to share. Never share,,the fantasy is best left unsaid!!!

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Zavien Doombringer]

Well, I have a nicely sunburnt face :) I go to the beach a lot, will be in Nags Head next week..see ya there :)

[cajungirl]

Oh my dear,,,I am very old!!! I am a grandmother, married almost 40 years. You have however made my day!!! BTW I drive a cute little sporty convertible, very cool looking, and sometimes young guys drive up next to me and say things flirty. I remove my sunglasses and gaze at them and their responses are so funny,,they looked like they have pinched their grannies butts by mistake. I just love that!

[Mr. Mojo]

Geez, I gotta move out of the Pacific Northwest.

[Zavien Doombringer]

nah, you aren't old...just mature...

A grandma in a convertable...

I find that sexy myself...< /flirt >

[cajungirl]

Well aren't you nice!! My children think it is an early sign of altzheimers. My grandsons think I am the coolest grandmother around. My husband thinks I am just aging with difficulty. I love its little roar but what I really really want is that Porche Boxter,,it is really cute! The audi TT is also very attractive but I don't trust audis. The new beamer z4 is also very nice. I love little sporty cars especially with good sound systems. Nothing like tooling along listening to loud music to invigorate the elderly!

[Zavien Doombringer]

I have to be nice, I am a Virginian Gentleman, see profile :)

I actually prefer the 1965 Austin Healey, something about it...not to mention the fact I own one

[cajungirl]

well, I think I had interesting times in one of those,,hahah. My first boyfriend had a 1960 corvette,,it was his main attraction. He since then became a lawyer and lost his license for something nefarious. I have avoided people with corvettes ever since. My daughter, who is young, is dying for one of those old corvettes so we think the sports car longing is genetic. There is a special year and model she wants but I forget what it was.

[gcruse]

I don't know about adding more rouge. It was my understanding that rouge and lipstick simulate the look of high sexual arousal in women. That's why only hookers wore makeup orginally. Any 'decent' woman wouldn't be caught dead in it. The acceptance of such was very gradual and shocking, which the young gals found ever more appealing.

[Diamond]

Any 'decent' woman wouldn't be caught dead in it. The acceptance of such was very gradual and shocking, which the young gals found ever more appealing.

As appalled as I find myself after being confronted by your apparently accurate historical information, I am certain that my wife will be even more appalled. Please don't say anything to her!

Cordially,