Abstract
We investigated longterm socio-spatial relationships between adult males and immatures in a colony of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata), housed in a 1200 m2 indoor-outdoor enclosure at Cavriglia Natural Park (Arezzo, Italy). Using focal animal observations together with scan sampling, we found that the immatures between six months and one year of age showed particularly high frequency of proximity and vicinity to the male troop leader. The immatures-actively sought proximity to this individual, even if social interaction with him was minimal compared to other males with which high frequency of play occurred. Proximity to the leader (even) caused some mild aggressive response by him, showing that this individual tolerated, rather than sought, proximity to the immatures. Their behaviour was not mediated by the mothers, who might be expected to profit from their offsprings’ proximity to the leader. The leader seemed to support the immatures during aggressive interactions with a significantly high frequency due to their spatial proximity to him. This behaviour decreased during the following year. We interpreted the immatures’ behaviour as a social strategy expressed during an early phase of individual ontogeny to manipulate the leader’s “control” role and to explore the physical and social environment from a relatively secure position.
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Ciani, A.C. The strategies of immature Macaques in their interactions with adult males in a colony ofMacaca fuscata . Hum. Evol. 12, 139–146 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02438064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02438064