Skip to main content
Log in

Adoption in free-ranging red howler monkeys,Alouatta seniculus of Venezuela

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Primates Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This report describes three cases of infant adoption in red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) of Venezuela. In one case, a lactating female adopted her infant granddaughter after the infant's mother disappeared and the infant survived for the next 25 months. In the second case, an adult female adopted her infant granddaughter for nine days while the infant's mother was still a group member. In the third case, a nulliparous female temporarily adopted an infant from a neighboring group. The details and the possible reasons for these adoption are described.

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.

References

  • Agoramoorthy, G., &S. M. Mohnot, 1988. Infanticide and juvenilicide in hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) around Jodhpur, India.Human Evol., 3 (4): 279–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alley T. R., 1980. Infantile colouration as an elicitor of caretaking behavior in Old World Monkeys.Primates, 10: 230–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altmann, J., 1974. Observational study of behavior: sampling methods.Behaviour, 49 (4): 227–267.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Breuggeman, J. A., 1973. Parental care in a group of free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).Folia Primatol., 20: 178–210.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caine, N. G. &G. Mitchell, 1980. Species differences in the interest shown in infants by juveniles female macaques (Macaca radiata andMacaca mulatta).Int. J. Primatol., 1: 323–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, M. R. &K. E. Glander, 1981. Adoption of infant howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata).Amer. J. Primatol., 1: 469–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. &R. Rudran, 1987. Red howler monkey birth data, I & II.Amer. J. Primatol., 13: 347–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, &R. Sekulic, 1984. Infanticide in red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). In:Infanticide: Comparative and Evolutionary Perspectives,G. Hausfater &S. B. Hrdy (eds.), Aldine, New York, pp. 173–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawkins, R., 1976.The Selfish Gene. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolhinow, P., 1980. An experimental study of mother loss in the Indian langur monkey (Presbytis entellus).Folia Primatol., 33: 77–128.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ————, &M. G. Demay, 1982. Adoption: the importance of infant choice.J. Human Evol., 11: 391–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuccillo, R., J. Scucchi, A. Trosi, &F. R. Damato, 1983. New born adoption in a confined group of Japanese macaques.Amer. J. Primatol., 5: 257–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W. J. III., C. Busse, &K. S. Smith, 1982. Adoption of infant orphan chacma baboons.Anim. Behav., 30: 29–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa, T. &M. Hiraiwa, 1980. Social interactions of orphans observed in a free-ranging troop of Japanese macaques.Folia Primatol., 33: 129–158.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hrdy, S. B., 1976. Care and exploitation of non-human primate infants by conspecifics other than the mother. In:Advances in the Study of Behavior, Vol. 6,R. A. Hinde,E. Shaw, &C. Beer (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 101–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izawa, K. 1989. The adoption of an infant observed in a wild group of red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus).Field Studies of New World Monkeys, La Macarena, Columbia, 2: 33–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, J. B., 1971. Play-mothering: the relations between juvenile females and young infants among free ranging vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops).Folia Primatol., 15: 161–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsden, H. M. &S. H. Vessey, 1968. Adoption of an infant green monkey within a social group.Comm. Behav. Biol., Part A, 2: 275–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhine, R. J., G. W. Norton, W. J. Roertgen, &H. D. Klein, 1980. The brief survival of free ranging baboon infants (Papio cynocephalus) after separation from their mothers.Int. J. Primatol., 1: 401–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedmann, M. L., 1982. The evolution of alloparental care and adoption in mammals and birds.Quart. Rev. Biol., 57: 405–435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudran, R., 1979. The demography and social mobility of a red howler (Alouatta seniculus) population in Venezuela. In:Vertebrate Ecology in the Northern Neotropics,J. F. Eisenberg (ed.), Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. pp. 107–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sade, D. S., 1965. Some aspects of parent-offspring and sibling relations in a group of rhesus monkeys, with a discussion of grooming.Amer. J. Phys. Anthropol., 23: 1–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silk, J. B., 1980. Kidnapping and female competition among captive bonnet macaques.Primates, 21: 100–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, D. M., 1984.The Sociobiology of Infant and Adult Male Baboon. Blex, Norwood, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thierry, B. &J. A. Anderson, 1986. Adoption in anthropoid primates.Int. J. Primatol., 7 (2): 191–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———— &N. Herrenschmidt, 1985. A case of transient adoption in a captive group of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana).Lab. Prim. Newsl., 24: 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorington, R. W., R. Rudran, &D. Mack, 1979. Sexual dimorphism ofAlouatta seniculus and observations on capture techniques. In:Vertebrate Ecology in the Northern Neotropics,J. F. Eisenberg (ed.), Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., pp. 97–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • West-Eberhard, M. J., 1975. The evolution of social behavior by kin selection.Quart. Rev. Biol., 50: 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, E. O., 1975.Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Agoramoorthy, G., Rudran, R. Adoption in free-ranging red howler monkeys,Alouatta seniculus of Venezuela. Primates 33, 551–555 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381155

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381155

Key Words

Navigation