Skip to main content
Log in

Sexual dimorphism in the activity of olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) housed in monosexual groups

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, responses to the formation of social groups were compared between adult male and female Papio cynocephalus anubis. Quantitative behavioral data based on systematic focal animal sampling were used to test the hypothesis that adult male and female olive baboons are similar in their behavioral response to (1) the formation of monosexual social groups and (2) the simultaneous reduction of social unit and habitat size. Males and females differed (ttest, p <0.05) in performance of sexual, tension, and stereotypy behavior during large group formations. During small group formations, males and females differed in play, subordinate, locomotion, manipulation, sexual, tension, and stereotypy behavior. Our observations, clearly indicate that in captivity, under conditions of identical housing, social structure, and social unit history, males and females differ in their behavior performance. Our data suggest that some socioenvironmental conditions, such as the lack of heterosexual grouping, may exaggerate those differences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altmann, S., and Altmann, J. (1970).Baboon Ecology African Field Research, Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bramblett, C. A. (1976).Patterns of Primate Behavior Mayfield, Palo Alto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coelho, A. M., Jr., and Bramblett, C. A. (in preparation). Behavior of the genusPapio: Standardization of an ethogram, behavioral taxonomy, methods and baseline data.

  • Coelho, A. M., Jr., Bramblett, C. A., and McGill, H. C., Jr. (1978). Diet and serum lipid responses of seven species of cercopithecus monkeys: A preliminary study.Primates 19: 795–800.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coelho, A. M., Jr., Bramblett, C. A., Quck, L. B., and Bramblett, S. S. (1976). Resource availability and population density in primates: A socio-bioenergetic analysis of the energy budgets of Guatemalan howler and spider monkeys.Primates 17: 63–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elton, R. H., and Anderson, B. V. (1977). The social behavior of a group of baboons (Papio anubis) under artificaial crowding.Primates 18: 225–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, J. (1978). Guardian behavior in the sooty mangabeyCercocebusatys.Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 48: 407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kummer, H., and Kurt, F. (1965). A comparison of social behavior in captive and wild hamadryas baboons. In Vagtborg, H. (ed.),The Baboon in Medical Research, Vol. I, Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, pp. 65–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liozos, C. (1967). Play behavior in higher primates: A review. In Morris, D. (ed.),Primate Ethology Morrison and Gibb, London and Edinburgh, pp. 176–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nie, N., Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K., and Bent, D. (1975).SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowell, T. (1967). A quantitative comparison of the behavior of a wild and caged baboon group.Anim. Behav. 15: 499–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coelho, A.M., Bramblett, C.A. Sexual dimorphism in the activity of olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) housed in monosexual groups. Arch Sex Behav 10, 79–91 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542676

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542676

Key words

Navigation