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.
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