# Do other species exhibit facial dimorphism between sexes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-species-exhibit-facial-dimorphism-between-sexes/683408>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 11, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-species-exhibit-facial-dimorphism-between-sexes/683408 "2014-03-11T03:20:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-species-exhibit-facial-dimorphism-between-sexes/683408/61 "2014-03-17T00:43:49Z")

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> [@md2000](#):
>
> SO if you are asking can we tell 100% all the time - no.  
> If you are asking "better that 50-50 outright guessing - I’ll suggest yes.

Actually, according the paper I cited, it’s often better than 95%. Of course there is overlap in facial features, and if such an individual dresses and behaves as the other sex they may well go undetected.

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-species-exhibit-facial-dimorphism-between-sexes/683408/62 "2014-03-19T02:47:08Z")

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In addition to humans, most other higher primates exhibit some degree of sexual dimorphism.

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**Author:** ![Slippery\_Sid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Slippery\_Sid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slippery_Sid)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-species-exhibit-facial-dimorphism-between-sexes/683408/63 "2014-03-21T00:16:36Z")

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I have had pet rabbits and there is a difference in the faces of male and female rabbits.

[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/Rabbitdimorphism.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/Rabbitdimorphism.png)

Funny that male and female dogs look the same to me, but female rabbits are cuter than male rabbits. And even within the same sex, there is still diverse variation in their faces. Some rabbits are cute, some are ugly, but all dogs look the same to me. Maybe it’s because rabbits are more genetically diverse than dogs?

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**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-species-exhibit-facial-dimorphism-between-sexes/683408/64 "2014-03-21T04:06:50Z")

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It’s worth noting that facial contrast plays a significant role in human sexual dimorphism. Figure 3 below shows the same image but with the contrast enhanced on the right, creating a more feminine appearance:

[http://public.gettysburg.edu/~rrussell/Russell\_2009.pdf](http://public.gettysburg.edu/~rrussell/Russell_2009.pdf)

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