Copulation between animals of the same sex has always been considered a mystery Darwinist theory. Because if it has no clear benefit for reproduction or survival, then why was this behavior selected for by evolution? Until now, this has been an open question, but a scientific study published this Tuesday suggests that habit may play an important role in maintaining communities.
This type of interaction, which has been described as homosexual in humans, has been described in more than 1,500 species and in all major groups, from invertebrates such as insects to vertebrates such as mammals. What the researchers observed was that despite this prevalence, coitus between animals of the same sex is more common in social species, suggesting that the behavior may be important in establishing and maintain positive relationships.
To conduct this research, scientists systematically examined all the cases described and then compared them with the evolutionary tree and other habits to find connections. They found that the practice occurred independently in several different species and that it was as common in males as in females. Nevertheless, coitus between males was a peculiarity. In this group, the probability of staying with species in which adulticide occurs, i.e Mitigating violent interactions.
However, the researchers make a caveat. “Since we only tested these two hypotheses, we cannot exclude other factors that, in combination with social behavior and aggressiveness, can promote the development of sexual behavior between people of the same sex,” explains the author of the study published in the scientific diary Nature communication and researcher at the University of Almería in Spain, Jose Gomezin an interview with VEJA.
Another discovery that also caught researchers’ attention is that this habit is particularly common in primates, occurring in at least 51 species, including lemurs, monkeys, bonobos and chimpanzees. Despite their proximity to humans, scientists say more study is needed to understand the development of human sexuality.
However, it is safe to say that, contrary to the claims of intolerant groups, interactions between people of the same gender are as natural as any other habit. “We humans are animals, and it would be strange if our behavior [sexual]like many other traits, was at least partly not shaped by natural selection,” says José Gómes.