Sexual behavior is one reason why female mammals typically live longer than their male counterparts, according to a new study.
Researchers from Germany, Denmark, France, Hungary and Belgium analyzed data relating to 528 mammal species and 648 bird species in zoos, in the most comprehensive study to date on sex differences in adult life expectancy in mammals and birds, published in the journal Science Advances on Wednesday.
They also analyzed data on populations in the wild for 110 species, to see if the findings would be the same in natural settings.
Among mammals, adult females lived 12% longer than males, the study found. However, the opposite trend was found among birds, with adult males living 5% longer.
The differences in longevity between the sexes were much more pronounced in the wild than in zoos for both mammals and birds, as there were fewer stressors, such as harsh climates and predators, in zoos, the study said.
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