Thecapuchin monkeysfrom Southamericathey “perfume” themselves by rubbing their hands, feet, and backs with their own urinein order toattract females, according to a study published in the journalAmerican Journal of Primatology. With this practice they send their companions a message ofsexual availability, according to the authors.
Capuchins are not the only apes that have a habit of smearing themselves with urine. Thehowler monkeyand thesquirrel monkeythey also usually do. For a long time, scientists had formulated various hypotheses in this regard, such as that the practice helped them to lower their body temperature. But so far no conclusive results had been obtained.
On this occasion, scientists at Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas (USA) scanned the brains of female capuchin monkeys while sniffing the urine of individuals of the opposite sex. The MRI showed that their brains were activated significantly more when they were smelling the scent of the urine of the adult males than when they smelled that of the young. Becauseadult monkeysreach sexual maturity, tend to segregatehigher concentrations of the quintessential male hormone, testosterone, in your urine. The concentration of testosterone in the urine is also related to theprimate social status, so that the one that produces more hormones has a higher status.
It is the first time that these primates have been shown to use communication codes based on smell.
Plus:
Urine was used as toothpaste in the Middle Ages
· Why is the urine yellowish?
