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Reproductive Characters and Mating Behaviour of Wild Nomascus hainanus

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Abstract

We report for the first time the reproductive behaviors of Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus), based on 29 mo of field observations. Receptive females initiated courtship displays. Copulatory patterns involved the male mounting dorsoventrally from above and behind. Multiple intromissions with thrusting were brief, lasting <10 s per copulation. We observed multiple copulations ≤4 times/d, but could not confirm multiple ejaculations. We also observed postconception proceptivity and copulations in sexually active females. We estimated the gestation period to be 136–173 d. Infants became independent at 1.5 yr, and the natal group could drive out maturing offspring at ca. 5.5 yr. The interbirth interval is ca. 24 mo. Our limited data also suggest that mating activities peak in the rainy season. The Hainan gibbons are polygynous, with a 1 male-2 females mating system. We hypothesize that suboptimal habitat quality and limited forest area may contribute to the current mating structure, but more work needs to be done over a longer period to understand better the sociosexual behaviors of this critically endangered species.

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Acknowledgments

A grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young Scholars to Fuwen Wei (30125006) provided funding for the work. In addition, the Sate Forestry Administration, China; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Fauna & Flora International China Programme Office; and Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Hong Kong provided funding for C. B. P. Lok to conduct the work. Richard Corlett and John Fellowes provided invaluable help in preparing the draft of the manuscript. We would also thank Mr. Xu Yingdong, Mr. Zhou Zhaoli, and Mr. Feng Zhenlin for logistic support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China

    Jiang Zhou & Deli Wang

  2. Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian, Beijing, 100080, China

    Jiang Zhou, Fuwen Wei & Ming Li

  3. Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, China Programme, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China

    Chan Bosco Pui Lok

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  1. Jiang Zhou
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Correspondence to Deli Wang.

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Zhou, J., Wei, F., Li, M. et al. Reproductive Characters and Mating Behaviour of Wild Nomascus hainanus . Int J Primatol 29, 1037–1046 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-008-9272-7

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