Humans rank high in monogamy study involving mammals

A new University of Cambridge study has found that humans are significantly more monogamous than their primate relatives, such as chimpanzees or gorillas, and ranked with mammals like beavers and meerkats.

Researchers, led by evolutionary anthropologist Mark Dyble, analyzed the proportions of full and half siblings across 94 human societies and various animal species to estimate monogamy ratings.

Societies or species with a higher ratio of full siblings were deemed more monogamous.

Based on these parameters, humans are in the “premier league” of monogamy with a rating of 66%, slightly exceeding meerkats (60%). Beavers topped the list at 72%.

Highly polyamorous primates, like chimpanzees and gorillas, had monogamy scores of 4% and 6%, respectively.

The study reinforces the view that monogamy is the dominant mating pattern for humans, as even the least monogamous human societies still had a higher proportion of full siblings.