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Alloparental behavior in a captive group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) at the Auckland zoo

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Abstract

I studied alloparental behavior in a captive group of spider monkeys at the Auckland Zoo using seven infants as focal subjects and assessed the effects of age, sex, and reproductive status of alloparents on patterns of infant-other interaction. Adult males initiated interactions with infants most often, followed by adult females. Immature individuals interacted with infants infrequently. Infants themselves initiated contact with adult males more often than with other members of the group. Alloparental behavior in spider monkeys differs from that in most other species in that the infant is an active rather than a passive participant in alloparental interactions. I discuss the patterns of infant-other interaction in relation to the social structure and dispersal patterns of Ateles.

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  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Sharon L. Watt

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  1. Sharon L. Watt
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Watt, S.L. Alloparental behavior in a captive group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) at the Auckland zoo. Int J Primatol 15, 135–151 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735239

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735239

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