Sexual combat is not a monopoly of the human species. As Sarah
Blaffer Hrdy argues in this spellbinding book, war between male and
female animals has deep roots in evolutionary history. Her account
of family life among hanuman langurs--the black-faced, gray monkeys
inhabiting much of the Indian subcontinent--is written with force,
wit, and, at times, sorrow.
Male hanumans, in pursuit of genetic success, routinely kill
babies sired by their competitors. The mothers of endangered
infants counter with various strategems to deceive the males and
prevent destruction of their own offspring. Competition and
selfishness are dominant themes of langur society. Competition
among males for access to females, competition among females for
access to food resources, and disregard by one female for the
well-being of another's infant--these are some very common
examples. Yet there are also moments of heroic self-sacrifice, as
when an elderly female rushes to defend her troop and its babies
from an invading, infancticidal male.
"The Langurs of Abu" is the first book to analyze behavior of
wild primates from the standpoint of both sexes. It is also a
poignant and sophisticated exploration of primate behavior patterns
from a feminist point of view. This book may inspire controversy;
it will certainly be read with pleasure by anyone interested in
animal behavior.
Richly illustrated with photographs, seven in full color.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
(2)
