Although tactical deception (TD) may be employed to hide sexual behaviour, there is as yet no firm evidence for it. Hiding may be guided by cognitive mechanisms consistent with either no, low or high level TD, such as exploiting male peripheral positions (no TD), creating distance (TD level 1) or hiding behind screens (TD level 1.5 which involves visual perspective taking (VPT)). Macaques are capable of VPT in a food context, suggesting that they may employ TD level 1.5. We investigated, in an observational study with temporarily provided hiding screens, which strategy was used to hide sexual behaviour in captive groups of two macaque species (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis). Sexual behaviour only sporadically took place near screens, and the few copulations near screens were not systematically hidden from the alpha male, precluding TD level 1.5. Instead, both females and non-alpha males were at a larger distance from the alpha male during sexual interactions than otherwise, consistent with TD level 1. Creating peripheral locations (TD level 1) may be effective in improving sexual opportunities in many species.

中文翻译：

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隐藏性行为的战术欺骗：猕猴利用距离，而不是可见度


尽管战术欺骗（TD）可以用来隐藏性行为，但目前还没有确凿的证据证明这一点。隐藏可能是由与无、低或高水平 TD 一致的认知机制引导的，例如利用男性外围位置（无 TD）、创造距离（TD 1 级）或隐藏在屏幕后面（TD 1.5 级，涉及视觉视角采择（ VPT））。猕猴能够在食物环境中进行 VPT，这表明它们可能采用 TD 1.5 级。我们在一项临时提供隐藏屏幕的观察性研究中进行了调查，该策略用于隐藏两种猕猴（猕猴和束状猕猴）圈养群体的性行为。性行为只是零星地发生在屏幕附近，并且屏幕附近的少数交配并没有系统地向雄性领袖隐藏，排除了 TD 1.5 级。相反，在性行为过程中，雌性和非阿尔法雄性与阿尔法雄性的距离比其他情况下更大，这与 TD 级别 1 一致。创建外围位置（TD 级别 1）可能会有效改善许多物种的性机会。