Re: Are we "special"?

Paul Crowley (Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 02 Dec 96 20:23:37 GMT

In article <01bbdfdd$df787300$122470c2@jdwaters.dircon.co.uk>
jdwaters@dircon.co.uk "John Waters" writes:

> In fact, the human
> species is the only species of mammal to rear multi-age
> broods of infants to maturity.

I can't see what's remarkable about this.

The only possible response for a singleton-producing species
which greatly extends the maturation period of its young is
to have multi-age broods; i.e. the mother has another baby
while still rearing older children. Chimpanzees exhibit the
beginnings of this pattern.

What else could it have done?

Paul.