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AP Photo/Heinz Ducklau, file
Homo promiscuous

Neanderthals were promiscuous because they had longer fingers

Scientists conducting fossil research on neanderthals reveal that promiscuity and aggressiveness went hand in hand for the ancient human relatives.

NEANDERTHALS WERE EXPOSED to more testosterone than modern day humans, making them more promiscuous- fossil research published this morning has revealed.

Scientists from the universities of Liverpool, Oxford, Southampton and Calgary were able to draw conclusions about the behaviour of the early humans by measuring the finger lengths of their fossilised remains.

If the ring finger is longer than the index finger, then the person is supposed to be exposed to more androgens- resulting in higher promiscuity and aggressive behaviour.

Emma Nelson, from the University of Liverpool’s School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, said: “We have shown that promiscuous primate species have low index to ring finger ratios, while monogamous species have high ratios.”

The relative length of the index and ring fingers has also been linked to musical ability and sporting prowess as well as sexual orientation.