Male Monkeys Wash With Urine to Attract Females?
Talk about "eew" de toilette—male monkeys that rub their fur with urine may be making themselves irresistible to females, a new study says.
Males and females of several monkey species pee into their hands and then vigorously rub the fluid into their fur. Scientists have posed various theories to explain the behavior, which range from regulating body temperature to communicating aggression.
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Now, brain images of female capuchin monkeys have revealed that male urine sends sexual signals, according to study leader Kimberley A. Phillips, a psychologist at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
"Apparently, a male covered in urine is quite attractive," Phillips said.
During MRI tests, Phillips and colleagues exposed four female monkeys to urine previously collected from
