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Study Debunks Myth of Larger Male Mammals

Analysis of over 400 species reveals males are not bigger than females in 45% of cases, challenging traditional views on sexual dimorphism.

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Male and female lemurs tend to be the same size, unlike some other primates like gorillas.
White Camargue Horses galloping on the water
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Overview

  • New analysis of 429 mammal species challenges the long-held belief that males are generally larger than females, finding that in 45% of the species, males are not bigger.
  • The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that in 16% of the species, females are larger than males, and in 39%, both sexes are roughly the same size.
  • The misconception that males are usually larger has been attributed to biases in scientific literature and a focus on more charismatic species like primates and carnivores.
  • The findings highlight the need for more research on female biology and less charismatic species to gain a more accurate understanding of sexual dimorphism in mammals.
  • The research suggests that the narrative of larger males competing for mates may not apply as broadly across mammal species as previously thought.