Do the following traits/ behaviors best characterize humans, chimps, or both?

Males can potentially father many more offspring than females can mother
[ Select ]
Humans
Chimps
Both

Question

Do the following traits/ behaviors best characterize humans, chimps, or both?

Males can potentially father many more offspring than females can mother 
[ Select ]
Humans
Chimps
Both

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks which group best fits the trait: 'Males can potentially father many more offspring than females can mother.'
Option 1: Humans. It is true that human males can have higher potential reproductive output than females, especially in contexts where offspring are spaced or where female fertility is limited by gestation and lactation. However, this is not unique to humans alone; many species exhibit a male-biased potential for reproduction due to sexual selection and parental investment patterns. Therefore, labeling this trait as specific to humans would be incomplete.
Option 2: Chimps. In chimpanzees, males typically have higher reproductive variance than females, and high-status males can father many offspring. This aligns with the idea that a single male can sire multiple offspring while most females have a more limited number of offspring over a given period, reflecting the mating system and infant care dynamics observed in chimp communities. Yet, as with humans, this pattern is not exclusive to chimps; there are other species with similar dynamics.
Option 3: Both. Across many primate species, including humans and chimpanzees, males can potentially father more offspring than females can mother due to differences in parental investment, mating opportunities, and sexual selection pressures. This broader perspective captures the general biological principle that male reproductive variance can be higher than female in many species, including both humans and chimpanzees.
In explaining potential misconceptions: choosing Humans alone might overlook the shared reproductive strategy seen in other primates, while selecting Chimps alone could ignore human variation and cultural factors that influence reproduction. Claiming ‘Both’ recognizes the common evolutionary pattern of male reproductive output exceeding female output in these species, while also acknowledging that exact numbers and social structures vary by species and context.
Overall, the statement aligns with the general principle of male reproductive variance being higher than female in both humans and chimpanzees, supporting the selection of 'Both' as the best characterization.

ANTH 1050-090 Fall 2025 Exam 2

Do the following traits/ behaviors best characterize humans, chimps, or both? Males can potentially father many more offspring than females can mother [ Select ] Humans Chimps Both

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

In a species of tropical birds, males have bright, colorful feathers while females are dull brown. The bright feathers make males more visible to predators. Which of the following best explains the evolution of these bright feathers in males?

Sexual-selection is one hypothesis about why art evolved in humans.

What body of evolutionary theory has been applied to the study of aesthetics? For example to explain why a peahen finds one peacock’s tail feathers more attractive than another’s?

Under which scenario would you expect sexual selection to be very intense?

Male coloration in African cichlids is subject to selection due to female .

A trait that decreases the likelihood of survival may evolve due to sexual selection if the trait the likelihood of reproduction.

The type of selection that often results in showy characteristics in males is selection. It is also called mate choice.

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler