What type of mating structure do gorillas typically have? E2.2124

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What type of mating structure do gorillas typically have?  E2.2124

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Question restated: What type of mating structure do gorillas typically have? E2.2124

Option by option analysis:

Option 1: Monogamy
- Evaluation: Monogamy refers to a pair-based mating system where one male mates with one female over a period of time. In gorilla groups, especially the classic harem or single-male, multi-female groups, one dominant male mates with several females rather than forming lasting pair bonds with a single partner. This makes monogamy inconsistent with typical gorilla social structure.

Option 2: Polygyny
- Evaluation: Polygyny means one male mates with multiple females. This aligns with the common gorilla social organization, where a single mature male (silverback) leads a group of several females and their offspring, and mates with multiple females within the group. This configuration is well-supported by field observations and primate literature.

Option 3: Polyandry
- Evaluation: Polyandry is a mating system where one female mates with multiple males. In gorillas, females do not typically mate with multiple adult males within a single social unit; instead, they are part of a multi-female group under a dominant male. Therefore, polyandry does not describe the gorilla mating pattern.

Option 4: None of the answer choices here
- Evaluation: Given the established descriptions of gorilla social mating patterns, there is at least one option that matches the observed structure. Invoking this option would rely on denying all standard categories, which is unsupported by typical primate mating ecology.

Option 5: Polygynandry
- Evaluation: Polygynandry involves both males and females having multiple mating partners within a group, leading to a more loosely structured social mating network. While some primate species exhibit flexible mating arrangements, gorilla groups are most consistently described as one dominant male with several females, favoring a polygynous interpretation over a fully polygynandrous arrangement.

Cross-option reasoning:
- The conventional model for gorilla groups centers on a single male leading a multi-female unit, which matches polygyny. The other options either describe pair bonds that are rare in typical gorilla groups (monogamy), female-driven multi-male matings (polyandry), a denial of common patterns (none of the above), or a broader, less male-dominant network than usually observed (polygynandry).

Context note:
- In some populations, occasional deviations or fission-fusion dynamics can introduce variation, but the standard, well-documented mating structure of gorillas is best described as polygyny. This framing helps explain the social hierarchy, reproductive skew, and paternal certainty associated with silverbacks within a group.

Sp25 ANTH D001 02Y Phys Anthro Exam 2 (online asynchronous)

What type of mating structure do gorillas typically have? E2.2124

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