Skip to main content
Log in

Tool use by a red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) towards a two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)

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

Abstract

Among New World monkeys, spontaneous tool use and object manipulation are commonly descirbed inCebus species only. We report here an occurrence of tool manipulation by a wild male red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), observed using a stick to softly but repeatedly hit a two toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) resting in the same tree. The ecological context of this unusual behavior for this quiet species generally showing very little manipulative propensity is discussed.

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

  • Anderson, J. R. 1996. Chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys: comparative cognition. In:Reaching into Thought: The Minds of the Great Apes,Russon,A. E.;Bard,K. A.;Parker,S. T. (eds.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 23–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, J. D.;Baldwin, J. I. 1978. Exploration and play in howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata).Primates, 19: 411–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, B. B. 1980.Animal Tool Behavior: The Use and Manufacture of Tools by Animals: Garland STPM Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boinski, S. 1988. Use of a club by a wild white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus) to attack a venomous snake (Bothrops asper).Amer. J. Primatol., 14: 177–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, C. A. 1986 Boa constrictor predation and group response in white-faced Cebus monkeys.Biotropica, 18(2): 171–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charles-Dominique, P.;Atramentowitcz, M.;Charles-Dominique, M.;Gérard, H.;Hladik, A.;Hladik, C. M.;Prevost, M. F. 1981. Les mammifères frugivores arboricoles nocturnes d'une forêt guyanaise: inter-relation plantes-animaaux.Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie), 35: 341–435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier-Skolnikoff, S. 1989. spontaneous tool use and sensorimotor intelligence in Cebus compared with other monkeys and apes.Behav. Brain Sci., 12: 561–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M.;Pope, T. 1988. Inferring patterns of aggression from red howler monkey injuries.Amer. J. Primatol., 15: 289–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Thoisy, B.;Richard-Hansen, C. 1997. Diet and social behaviour changes in a red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) troop in a highly degraded rainforest.Folia Primatol., 68: 357–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, J. F.;Thorington, R. W. 1973. A preliminary analysis of a neotropical mammal fauna.Biotropica, 5: 150–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. B. 1995. The potential for metacommunity, effects upon howler monkeys.Neotropical Primates, 3(2): 43–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Julliot, C.;Sabatier, D. 1993. Diet of the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) in French Guiana.Int. J. Primatol., 14: 527–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima De Queiroz, H. 1995. Preguicas e guaribas. Os mamíferos folívoros arborícolas de Mamirauá. Conselho Nacional de desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico, MCT-CNPq. Sociedad civil Mamirauá.

  • Montgomery, G. G.;Sunquist, M. E. 1978. Habitat, selection and use by two-toed and three-toed sloths. In:Ecology of Arboreal FolivoresMontgomery, G. G. (ed.) Smithsonian, Instit. Press, Washington D.C., pp. 329–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richard-Hansen, C.; Vié J. C.; de Thoisy, B. Translocation of red howler monkeys in French Guiana: dispersal, settlement and sociality.Conserv. Biology. (submit.)

  • Simmen, B. 1992. Competitive utilization ofGagassa fruits by sympatric howler and spider monkeys.Folia Primatol., 58: 155–160.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taube, E.; Vié J. C.; Fournier, P.; Genty, C.; Duplantier, J. M. Distribution of two synpatric species of sloths (Choloepus didactylus andBradypus tridactylus) along the Sinnamary river, French Guiana.Biotropica. (submit.)

  • Vié, J. C.;Richard-Hansen, C. 1997. Primate translocation in French Guiana: a preli inary report.Neotropical Primates, 5(1): 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Visalberghi, E. 1990. Tool use inCebus.Folia Primatol., 54: 146–154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young, O. P. 1982. Aggressive interaction between howler monkeys and turkey vultures: the need to thermoregulate behaviorally.Biotropica, 14: 228–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Richard-Hansen, C., Bello, N. & Vié, J.C. Tool use by a red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) towards a two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus). Primates 39, 545–548 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02557575

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02557575

Key words

Navigation