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5d ago

Humans Rank Seventh in New Mammal Monogamy Study, Below Beavers and Above Meerkats

Researchers used sibling genetic patterns across humans and other mammals to estimate reproductive monogamy, suggesting pair-bonding helped foster human cooperation.

Beavers were found to be slightly more monogamous than humans.
Meerkats, as well as humans, are part of what researchers called a "premier league" of monogamy.
Close up of two Eurasian beavers / European beavers (Castor fiber) fighting in pond. (Photo by: Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Cambridge study finds humans fall between meerkats and beavers in their tendency toward monogamy

Overview

  • Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study models monogamy by comparing proportions of full versus half siblings across species.
  • Humans average a 66% full‑sibling rate—seventh overall—between beavers (~73%) and meerkats (60%) in a comparative “premier league” of monogamy.
  • The human dataset spans 103 populations, from Neolithic Anatolia and Bronze Age Europe to modern societies, compared with data from roughly 34 other mammal species.
  • The measure reflects reproductive, not sexual, behavior, and the authors note that cultural practices such as contraception can decouple mating from births.
  • Nonhuman primates rank very low (chimpanzees ~4%, mountain gorillas ~6%); the authors argue higher human monogamy supported paternal investment and cooperation, with even the lowest human cases (~26%) exceeding the highest non‑monogamous mammals (~22%).