Home > Alpha (biology)
An alpha male or alpha female is the individual in the community to whom the others follow and defer. Humans and their nearest species-relatives, the chimpanzees, show deference to the alpha of the community by ritualized gestures such as bowing, allowing the alpha to walk first in a procession, or standing aside when the alpha challenges. Canines also show deference to the alpha male in their pack , by allowing him to be the first to eat and the first to mate.The status of alpha is generally achieved by means of superior physical prowess.
However in species such as the Bonobo apes, the alpha can by dint of social engineering, oft in said species sexuality-based, use alliances to oust the ruling alpha and take his/her place, although the female Bonobo seniors rule by ignoring less well bonded individual male aggression.
Source
