Abstract
Two infanticides occurred after a male takeover in a population of Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. The first infant was found dying from wounds received to the chest and groin after three adult males had immigrated into the group. The second infanticide was directly observed 2 weeks later when one of the immigrant males targeted and attacked the infant after it was separated from its mother. The directed nature of the attack suggests that the infant’s death was not a result of generalized aggression during a period of increased group instability. Although the sexual selection argument does not fully explain infanticidal events in seasonally breeding lemurs, such as Verreaux’s sifaka, it is clear that transferring males present a measurable threat to infant survival and female reproductive success in this species.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by NSF BCS-0648726. I thank Patricia L. Whitten, Diane K. Brockman, Sarah Gouzoules, Laurie Godfrey, and two anonymous reviewers for their assistance with the preparation of this manuscript. A special thanks to Roopa Krithivasan; Joelisoa Ratsirarson, Jeannin Ranivonasy, and Jacky Youssouf from the University of Antananarivo; Andry Serge Randrianandrasana from the National Management for Protected Areas (ANGAP), Madagascar; and the staff and census team at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve for their continued support and assistance in the field.
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Littlefield, B.L. Infanticide following male takeover event in Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi). Primates 51, 83–86 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-009-0162-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-009-0162-1