Facial Width-To-Height Ratio Relates to Alpha Status and Assertive Personality in Capuchin Monkeys

Authors

Carmen Emilia Lefevre, Leeds University Business SchoolFollow
Vanessa A. D. Wilson, The University of EdinburghFollow
F. Blake Morton, University of StirlingFollow
Sarah F. Brosnan, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Annika Paukner, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentFollow
Timothy C. Bates, The University of EdinburghFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2014

Abstract

Social dominance hierarchies play a pivotal role in shaping the behaviour of many species, and sex differences within these hierarchies often exist. To date, however, few physical markers of dominance have been identified. Such markers would be valuable in terms of understanding the etiology of dominant behaviour and changes in social hierarchies over time. Animals may also use such traits to evaluate the potential dominance of others relative to themselves (i.e. a physical ‘‘cue’’). Facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR), for example, has been suggested as a cue to dominance in humans, with links to both dominant behaviour and the perception of dominance in other individuals. Whether this association is present in nonhuman animals is currently not known. Therefore, here we examine within-species links between fWHR and dominant behaviour in 64 brown capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) aged between 2 and 40 years. fWHR was positively associated with alpha status and with a dimensional rating of assertive personality in both males and females. Moreover, fWHR showed significant sexual dimorphism in adults but not juveniles, suggesting a developmental change may occur during puberty. In a sub-sample, sex differences were mediated by weight, suggesting fWHR dimorphism does not exceed what would be expected by differences in body weight. This is the first report of an association between face shape and behaviour in a nonhuman species. Results are discussed in terms of the role that face-behaviour associations might play within capuchin societies, and the possible selective forces that might have led to the evolution of fWHR-dominance associations in humans.

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Originally Published in:

PLoS ONE 9(4): e93369. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093369

Recommended Citation

Lefevre CE, Wilson VAD, Morton FB, Brosnan SF, Paukner A, et al. (2014) Facial Width-To-Height Ratio Relates to Alpha Status and Assertive Personality in Capuchin Monkeys. PLoS ONE 9(4): e93369. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093369

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