Shalauddin Md, Islam Md Jayedul, Ahmed Tanvir
Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh.
Primate Biol. 2021 Nov 18;8(2):43-45. doi: 10.5194/pb-8-43-2021. eCollection 2021.
Masturbation is a common auto-sexual behaviour in humans but is not explicitly known in a major portion of non-human primates. We report the first masturbatory behaviour in a male Phayre's langur, , observed in a semi-evergreen forest in northeastern Bangladesh. Like other Asian colobines, the multi-male-multi-female groups of the Phayre's langur suggest a multilevel social organization and a complex hierarchy among males. The lack of sexual opportunity could result in masturbation and sperm competition among males. However, sperm competition is reported to be low in such non-seasonal breeders. Hence, we suggest an adequate characterization of the socio-sexual behaviour and reproductive strategies of this globally endangered primate in order to demonstrate the causes, cost and consequences of masturbation. We also urge further scientific exploration into masturbation among primates due to its evolutionary and conservational significance.
自慰是人类常见的自体性行为，但在大部分非人类灵长类动物中并不为人所知。我们报告了在孟加拉国东北部一片半常绿森林中观察到的一只雄性菲氏叶猴的首次自慰行为。与其他亚洲疣猴一样，菲氏叶猴的多雄多雌群体表明其具有多层次的社会组织结构以及雄性之间复杂的等级制度。缺乏性机会可能导致雄性之间的自慰行为和精子竞争。然而，据报道，在这种非季节性繁殖的动物中，精子竞争程度较低。因此，我们建议对这种全球濒危灵长类动物的社会性行为和生殖策略进行充分描述，以阐明自慰行为的原因、代价和后果。鉴于自慰行为在进化和保护方面的重要意义，我们还敦促对灵长类动物的自慰行为进行进一步的科学探索。
