Often the animals are of very similar, related species, and the mating might just be a case of mistaken identity. Clearly, that's not the case here. Writing with significant understatement, the researchers note that "this interpretation is implausible in our case because the anatomical differences between Japanese macaques and sika deer are profound."
They could be wrong about this. It assumes that the young macaques have a clear sense of 'self-as -macaque' and the other as 'not macaque'. Sexual anatomy per se doesn't have all that much to do with it if the behavior is "…climbing onto the deer and grinding their genitals against the deer's backs."
Often the animals are of very similar, related species, and the mating might just be a case of mistaken identity. Clearly, that's not the case here. Writing with significant understatement, the researchers note that "this interpretation is implausible in our case because the anatomical differences between Japanese macaques and sika deer are profound."
They could be wrong about this. It assumes that the young macaques have a clear sense of 'self-as -macaque' and the other as 'not macaque'. Sexual anatomy per se doesn't have all that much to do with it if the behavior is "…climbing onto the deer and grinding their genitals against the deer's backs."
This is what happens when you let monkeys self-identify.
Sex in Japan is different in many ways. Apparently.
<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a523faff110a8d6e3a4d81000a1a358f/tumblr_okmnewwQRe1qmob6ro1_500.gif" width="300" height="300">
Praise be!
Never saw/heard that one before.
OMG!!!!!
But not mine.