Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) Consume Cicadas in the Qinling Mountains, China
There is limited information on insectivory in folivorous primates. Here, we report that wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) consume cicadas (Karenia caelatata) in the Qinling Mountains of China. Our research suggests that snub-nosed monkeys expand their diet and prey on cicadas during summer and early autumn, possibly in response to increased availability of these insects and their relatively high protein and fat content relative to leaves.Folia Primatol 2016;87:11-16 (Source: Folia Primatologica)
Source: Folia Primatologica - March 4, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
The Behavioural Contexts of Red Langur (Presbytis rubicunda) Loud Calls in the Wehea Forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Researchers hypothesize that male loud calls play several roles in primate societies including in the context of intergroup spacing and spatial coordination. Field studies examining the behavioural correlates of vocalizations are essential to evaluate the function of these calls. This preliminary study, from July 2011 to January 2012, explores the behavioural contexts and correlates of male loud calls in a habituated group of red langurs (Presbytis rubicunda) in the Wehea Forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. In analysing 418 h of data collection, we find a total of 87 vocal behaviours, including bouts of multiple calls in r...
Source: Folia Primatologica - March 4, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Is Tickling Torture Assessing Welfare towards Slow Lorises (Nycticebus spp.) within Web 2.0 Videos
We examined 100 online videos to assess whether they violated the ‘five freedoms' of animal welfare and whether presence or absence of these conditions contributed to the number of thumbs up and views received by the videos. We found that all 100 videos showed at least 1 condition known as negative for lorises, indicating absence of the necessary freedom; 4% showed only 1 condition, but in nearly one third (31.3%) all 5 chosen criteria were present, including human contact (57%), daylight (87%), signs of stress/ill health (53%), unnatural environment (91%) and isolation from conspecifics (77%). The public were more likel...
Source: Folia Primatologica - February 9, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Is Tickling Torture? Assessing Welfare towards Slow Lorises (Nycticebus spp.) within Web 2.0 Videos
We examined 100 online videos to assess whether they violated the ‘five freedoms' of animal welfare and whether presence or absence of these conditions contributed to the number of thumbs up and views received by the videos. We found that all 100 videos showed at least 1 condition known as negative for lorises, indicating absence of the necessary freedom; 4% showed only 1 condition, but in nearly one third (31.3%) all 5 chosen criteria were present, including human contact (57%), daylight (87%), signs of stress/ill health (53%), unnatural environment (91%) and isolation from conspecifics (77%). The public were more likel...
Source: Folia Primatologica - February 6, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Non-Maternal Infant Handling in Wild Formosan Macaques of Mount Longevity, Taiwan
In this paper, we present quantitative data on how the social network and sex of infants influence allomothering behaviour among wild Formosan macaques, Macaca cyclopis. Using long-term field data collected from the Mount Longevity study site in Kaohsiung (Taiwan), we have tested relevant hypotheses incorporating data on age, rank and reproductive state of infant handlers, and the relationship between handlers and infants. The results support 2 major hypotheses, i.e. those of reciprocity and alliance formation. Nevertheless, neither could account for the observed occurrences of unrelated infant handling by dominant females...
Source: Folia Primatologica - January 29, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Estimating Population Density of the San Martin Titi Monkey (Callicebus oenanthe) in Peru Using Vocalisations
We calculated the population density of the critically endangered Callicebus oenanthe in the Ojos de Agua Conservation Concession, a dry forest area in the department of San Martin, Peru. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.01) in group densities between forest boundaries (16.5 groups/km2, IQR = 21.1-11.0) and forest interior (4.0 groups/km2, IQR = 5.0-0.0), suggesting the 2,550-ha area harbours roughly 1,150 titi monkeys. This makes Ojos de Agua an important cornerstone in the conservation of the species, because it is one of the largest protected areas where the species occurs.Folia Primatol 2015;86:525-533 (So...
Source: Folia Primatologica - January 29, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Patterns of Behaviour, Group Structure and Reproductive Status Predict Levels of Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Zoo-Housed Ring-Tailed Lemurs, Lemur catta
In ring-tailed lemurs, Lemur catta, the factors modulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity differ between wild and semi-free-ranging populations. Here we assess factors modulating HPA activity in ring-tailed lemurs housed in a third environment: the zoo. First we validate an enzyme immunoassay to quantify levels of glucocorticoid (GC) metabolites in the faeces of L. catta. We determine the nature of the female-female dominance hierarchies within each group by computing David's scores and examining these in relation to faecal GC (fGC). Relationships between female age and fGC are assessed to evaluate potential...
Source: Folia Primatologica - January 29, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Scapular Morphology and Forelimb Use during Foraging in Four Sympatric Cercopithecids
We examined forelimb use during foraging in 4 cercopithecids ranging throughout the Ivory Coast's Tai Forest. During 5-min feeding bouts, we recorded the frequency individuals of Piliocolobus badius, Colobus polykomos, Cercocebus atys and Cercopithecus diana performed 5 forelimb behaviors involved in the acquisition and introduction of food to the oral cavity. Scapulae from these populations were examined to determine whether differences in forelimb use were reflected in features known to correspond with varying degrees of arm flexion, abduction and elevation. Our results reveal that the species differ markedly in forelimb...
Source: Folia Primatologica - January 12, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
A Saki Saga: Dynamic and Disruptive Relationships among Pithecia aequatorialis in Ecuador
Saki monkeys live in socially monogamous groups and in groups containing more than one same-sex adult. As part of a 10-year study of equatorial sakis (Pithecia aequatorialis) in Ecuador, we documented the immigration of a second adult male into a group containing a resident male-female pair that had associated with one another for seven years and the resident female's two daughters. In the first month after immigration, the resident male spent more time closer to and grooming his putative adult daughter than the resident female, and the two males were seen performing a cooperative territorial display. After two months, the...
Source: Folia Primatologica - December 12, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Postconflict Conciliation within One-Male Breeding Units in Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkeys in the Qinling Mountains, China
This study analyzed conflict and postconflict (PC) conciliation between males and females within one-male breeding units in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains, China. The PC matched-control and time rule methods were used to collect and analyze data recorded from September 2013 to June 2014. The conciliatory tendency among individuals following conflict was 82.07%, and affiliation occurred within a few minutes after the conflict, which was not significantly different between mating and nonmating seasons. The PC conciliation scenarios were different from those reported from captivi...
Source: Folia Primatologica - November 20, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Behavioural and Glucocorticoid Responses of a Captive Group of Spider Monkeys to Short-Term Variation in Food Presentation
The presentation of food may affect feeding competition and the well-being of captive social species. We hypothesized that feeding competition in a captive group of 5 black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) should increase in response to certain food presentations in terms of size, distribution and quality of food, and that higher feeding competition should lead to an increase in agonism and physiological stress (measured by faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, FGCM) as well as to a decrease in affiliation, proximity among individuals and feeding activity. We used 5 experimental treatments representing different combi...
Source: Folia Primatologica - October 29, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Folivory as a Constraint on Social Behaviour of Langurs in South India
Folivory, being a dietary constraint, can affect the social time of colobines. In the present study, we compared food items and activity budgets of two closely related species of colobines inhabiting South India, i.e. the Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus hypoleucos) and Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johnii), to determine whether folivory had an impact on social time in these species. Our study established that Nilgiri langurs were more folivorous than Hanuman langurs. Nilgiri langurs spent much less time on social activities, but more time on resting, although the social organization of S. hypoleucos was similar to that of th...
Source: Folia Primatologica - October 3, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Hand Preference during Tool Use in Wild Bearded Capuchins
The preferential use of one limb (lateralization) has been observed in many species. This lateralization reflects functional asymmetries of the brain. Right-handedness and left-hemisphere dominance seem to be the norm in humans. However, suggestions that vertebrates, particularly non-human primates, show handedness are contentious. Tool use could be a driver of handedness. Here I investigated hand bias during tool use activities in groups of wild capuchins (Sapajus libidinosus). I observed the use of feeding tools in wild capuchin monkeys living in the dry Caatinga forests of the Serra da Capivara National Park, Piaui, Bra...
Source: Folia Primatologica - September 19, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
An Improved Technique Using Dental Prostheses for Field Quantification of the Force Required by Primates for the Dental Penetration of Fruit
Tooth morphology is an important determinant of primate diet, setting potential limits on processable item size and material properties. Plunger-based commercial fruit firmness testers (penetrometers) have been used to estimate primate diet item hardness and, by proxy, bite force required for penetration. However, geometric forms and surface areas of penetrometer plungers and primate teeth differ considerably. Accurate bite force estimation is especially important with pitheciine primates as these penetrate fruit pericarps with their canines. To achieve more realistic bite force measures, we replaced a fruit penetrometer's...
Source: Folia Primatologica - August 25, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
6th European Federation for Primatology Meeting, XXII Italian Association of Primatology Congress Rome, Italy, August 25-28, 2015: Abstracts
Folia Primatol 2015;86:235-386 (Source: Folia Primatologica)
Source: Folia Primatologica - August 24, 2015 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
