Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Aspects of Fur-rubbing in Cebus capucinus and C. apella

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Capuchins rub particular plant materials into their pelage, a behavior for which most authors have proposed a medicinal function (Baker in American Journal of Primatology 38:263–270, 1996, Baker, M. (1998). Fur Rubbing as Evidence for Medicinal Plant Use by Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus capucinus): Ecological, Social, and Cognitive Aspects of the Behavior. Dissertation thesis. University of California Riverside; DeJoseph et al. in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 46:924–925, 2002). Individuals fur-rub solitarily or in groups, but researchers have not conducted studies to understand the differences. We investigated the link between the form of fur-rubbing and other social variables in 2 capuchin species. We supplied 2 captive groups —white-faced capuchins and tufted capuchins— with citrus fruit and onions and explored the behavioral processes and social aspects underlying the activity. We documented the occurrence, number of participants, and effect of recruitment behaviors in fur-rubbing subgroups. We investigated the role of kinship, affiliation, and dominance relationships in accounting for fur-rubbing groups. There is a significant difference in the form of fur-rubbing between white-faced and tufted capuchins. White-faced capuchins fur-rubbed mainly in subgroups and performed a particular behavior to recruit prospective participants, whereas tufted capuchins fur-rubbed mainly alone, and showed no particular motivation to be joined by other group members. White-faced capuchins could fur-rub together frequently, whatever their degree of kinship, affiliation, or dominance interval. In tufted capuchins, fur-rubbing appeared to be significantly affected by kinship and dominance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altmann, J. (1974). Observational study of behaviour: Sampling methods. Behaviour, 49, 227–265.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M. (1996). Fur rubbing: Use of medicinal plants by capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus). American Journal of Primatology, 38, 263–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M. (1997). Identification and selection of fur rubbing materials by white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus). American Journal of Primatology, 42, 93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M. (1998). Fur Rubbing as Evidence for Medicinal Plant Use by Capuchin Monkeys(Cebus capucinus): Ecological, Social, and Cognitive Aspects of the Behavior. Dissertationthesis.University of California Riverside.

  • Baker, M. (2000). Cognitive components of plant selection for fur rubbing in white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus capucinus. American Journal of Primatology, 51, 39–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birkinshaw, C. R. (1999). Use of millipedes by black lemurs to anoint their bodies. Folia Primatologica, 70, 170–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boinski, S. (1993). Vocal coordination of group movement among white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus capucinus. American Journal of Primatology, 30, 85–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boinski, S., & Campbell, A. F. (1995). Use of trill vocalizations to coordinate troop movement among white-faced capuchins: A second field test. Behaviour, 132, 875–901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, C. J. (2000). Fur rubbing behavior in free-ranging black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in Panama. American Journal of Primatology, 51, 205–208.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeJoseph, M., Taylor, R. S. L., Baker, M., & Aregullin, M. (2002). Fur-rubbing behaviour of capuchin monkeys. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 46, 924–925.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Vries, H. (1995). An improved test of linearity in dominance hierarchies containing unknown or tied relationships. Animal Behavior, 50, 1375–1389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Vries, H., Netto, W. J., & Hanegraaf, P. L. H. (1993). Matman: A program for the analysis of sociometric matrices and behavioural transition matrices. Behaviour, 125, 157–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Waal, F. B. M. (1991). Rank distance as a central feature of rhesus monkey social organization: A sociometric analysis. Animal Behavior, 41, 383–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Waal, F. B. M., & Luttrell, L. M. (1986). The similarity principle underlying social bonding among female rhesus monkeys. Folia Primatologica, 46, 215–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Bitetti, M. S. (1997). Evidence for an important social role of allogrooming in a Platyrrhine primate. Animal Behavior, 54, 189–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S., Weldon, P., Giovanetti, J., Moody, C., & Vicaria, E. (2004). Anointing in owl monkeys. Folia Primatologica, 75, 259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falotico, T., Verderane, M. P., Resende, B. D., Labruna, M. B., Izar, P., & Ottoni, E. B. (2004). Anting in a semi-free ranging group of brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Folia Primatologica, 75, 372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedigan, L. M. (1993). Sex differences and intersexual relations in adult white-faced capuchins, Cebus capucinus. International Journal of Primatology, 14, 853–877.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy, D. M., Visalberghi, E., & Fedigan, L. M. (2004). The Complete Capuchin: The Biology of the Genus Cebus. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves, C. P. (2001). Primate Taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huffman, M. A., Page, J. E., Sukhdeo, M. V. K., Gotoh, S., Kalunde, M. S., Chandrasiri, T., et al. (1996). Leaf-swallowing by chimpanzees: A behavioral adaptation for the control of strongyle nematode infections. International Journal of Primatology, 17, 475–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izawa, K. (1980). Social behavior of the wild black-capped capuchin (Cebus apella). Primates, 21, 443–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jack, K. M. (2003). Explaining variation in affiliative relationships among male white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus). Folia Primatologica, 74, 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janson, C. H. (1985). Aggressive competition and individual food consumption in wild brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 18, 125–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janson, C. H. (1986a). The mating system as a determinant of social evolution in capuchin monkeys (Cebus). In J. G. Else, & P. C. Lee (Eds.), Primate Ecology and Conservation (pp. 169–179). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janson, C. H. (1986b). Capuchin counterpoint: Divergent mating and feeding habits distinguish two closely related monkey species of the Peruvian forest. Natural History, 95, 45–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janson, C. H. (1990). Social correlates of individual spatial choice in foraging groups of brown capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella. Animal Behavior, 40, 910–921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leca, J.-B., Fornasieri, I., & Petit, O. (2002). Aggression and reconciliation in Cebus capucinus. International Journal of Primatology, 23, 979–998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leca, J.-B., Gunst, N, Thierry, B., & Petit, O. (2003). Distributed leadership in semi-free ranging white-faced capuchin monkeys. Animal Behavior, 66, 1045–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longino, J. T. (1984). True anting by the capuchin, Cebus capucinus. Primates, 25, 243–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludes, E., & Anderson, J. R. (1995). Peat-bathing by captive white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus capucinus. Folia Primatologica, 65, 38–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGrew, W. C., & Tutin, C. E. G. (1978). Evidence for a social custom in wild chimpanzees? Man, 13, 243–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panger, M. A., Perry, S., Rose, L., Gros-Louis, J., Vogel, E., McKinnon, K. C., et al. (2002). Cross-site differences in foraging behavior of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 119, 52–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parr, L. A., Matheson, M. D., Bernstein, I. S., & de Waal, F. B. M. (1997). Grooming down the hierarchy: Allogrooming in captive brown capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella. Animal Behavior, 54, 361–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S. (1996). Female-female social relationships in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus capucinus. American Journal of Primatology, 40, 167–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S. (1998). A case report of male rank reversal in a group of wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus). Primates, 39, 51–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S., Baker, M., Fedigan, L., Gros-Louis, J., Jack, K., McKinnon, K. C., et al. (2003). Social conventions in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys. Current Anthropology, 44, 241–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S., & Rose, L. M. (1994). Begging and transfer of coati meat by white-faced capuchin monkeys. Cebus capucinus. Primates, 35, 409–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit, O., Abegg, C., & Thierry, B. (1997). A comparative study of aggression and conciliation in three Cercopithecine monkeys (Macaca fuscata, Macaca nigra, Papio papio). Behaviour, 134, 415–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petit, O., Desportes, C., & Thierry, B. (1992). Differential probability of “coproduction” in two species of macaque (Macaca tonkeana, M. mulatta). Ethology, 90, 107–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K. A. (1995). Resource patch size and flexible foraging in white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus). International Journal of Primatology, 16, 509–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, J. P. (2004). Fur Rubbing Behavior in a Captive Group of Cebus apella apella Monkeys. Master’s thesis. California State University, Fullerton.

  • Rose, L. M. (1994). Sex differences in diet and foraging behavior in white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus). International Journal of Primatology, 15, 95–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, L. M. (1997). Vertebrate predation and food-sharing in Pan and Cebus. International Journal of Primatology, 18, 727–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thierry, B. (1990). Feedback loop between kinship and dominance: The macaque model. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 145, 511–521.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thierry, B. (2000). Covariation of conflict management patterns in macaque societies. In F. Aureli, & F. B. M. de Waal (Eds.), Natural Conflict Resolution (pp. 106–128). University of California Press, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thierry, B. (2004). Social epigenesis. In B. Thierry, M. Singh, & W. Kaummans (Eds.), Macaque societies: A model for the study of social organization (pp. 267–294). Cambridge University Press.

  • Thierry, B., Aureli, F., de Waal, F. B. M., & Petit, O. (1997). Variation in reconciliation patterns and social organization across nine species of macaques. Advances in Ethology, 32, 39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno, Y. (1991). Urine-washing in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella): Discrimination between groups by urine-odor. In A. Ehara, T. Kimura, O. Takenaka, & M. Iwamonto (Eds.) (pp. 297–300). Primatology today. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valderrama, X., Robinson, J. G., Attygale, A. B., & Eisner, T. (2000). Seasonal anointment with millipedes in a wild primate: A chemical defense against insects? Journal of Chemical Ecology, 26, 2781–2790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Schaik, C. P., & van Noordwijk, M. A. (1989). The special role of male Cebus monkeys in predation avoidance and its effect on group composition. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 24, 265–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verbeek, P., & de Waal, F. B. M. (1997). Post-conflict behavior of captive brown capuchins in the presence and absence of attractive food. International Journal of Primatology, 18, 703–725.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welker, C., Hoehmann, H., & Schaefer-Witt, C. (1990). Significance of kin relations and individual preferences in the social behavior of Cebus apella. Folia Primatologica, 54, 166–170.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zahavi, A. (1977). The testing of a bond. Animal Behavior, 25, 246–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zito, M., Evans, S., & Weldon, P. J. (2003). Owl monkeys (Aotus spp.) self-anoint with plants and millipedes. Folia Primatologica, 74, 159–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

A fellowship from the Ministère de l’Education Nationale, de la Recherche, et de la Technologie supported the work. During the preparation of the manuscript, a Lavoisier grant, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France supported J.-B. Leca; a grant from the National Science Foundation (BCS-0352035) supported N. Gunst. We thank Camille Chandès, Sandra Colas, Nadia Daki, Pavine Lefebvre, Hélène Meunier, and Delphine Penant for occasional assistance in data collection. We also thank Michael A. Huffman for his fruitful suggestions, and 2 anonymous reviewers for their very constructive comments on previous versions of the manuscript. We thank Sue Boinski and Josephine P. Quinn for providing valuable information and Ana M. Ducoing for correcting the English.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ethologie des Primates, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 CNRS ULP, 67087 Strasbourg cedex 2, France

    Jean-Baptiste Leca & Odile Petit

  2. Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602–2202, USA

    Noëlle Gunst

Authors
  1. Jean-Baptiste Leca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Noëlle Gunst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Odile Petit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Odile Petit.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leca, JB., Gunst, N. & Petit, O. Social Aspects of Fur-rubbing in Cebus capucinus and C. apella . Int J Primatol 28, 801–817 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-007-9162-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-007-9162-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation