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'Microsmatic' primates revisited: olfactory sensitivity in the squirrel monkey.

M Laska1, A Seibt, A Weber

  • 1Department of Medical Psychology, University of Munich Medical School, Goethestrabetae 31, D-80336 Munich, Germany.

Chemical Senses
|February 11, 2000
PubMed
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Squirrel monkeys possess remarkably high olfactory sensitivity, detecting specific odors at extremely low concentrations. This challenges the view of primates as primarily visual, suggesting olfaction significantly influences their behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Primate Olfaction
  • Sensory Neuroscience
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Primates are traditionally considered primarily visual animals with limited olfactory capabilities ('microsmatic').
  • The role of olfaction in primate behavior regulation is often underestimated.
  • Understanding olfactory sensitivity in primates is crucial for revising these assumptions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the olfactory sensitivity of squirrel monkeys to various odorants.
  • To determine the detection thresholds for different chemical classes and homologous series.
  • To assess the correlation between odorant structure and olfactory perception.

Main Methods:

  • A conditioning paradigm was employed to train three squirrel monkeys.
  • Olfactory sensitivity was tested using nine odorants across different chemical classes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Detection thresholds were determined by presenting serial dilutions of odorants against a solvent control.

    • Main Results:

    • Squirrel monkeys demonstrated high olfactory sensitivity, detecting substances at dilutions as low as 1:10,000 to 1:30,000,000.
    • Sensitivity for some odorants matched or exceeded that of rats and dogs.
    • A negative correlation was found between olfactory detection thresholds and the carbon chain length of carboxylic acids.

    Conclusions:

    • Squirrel monkeys exhibit unexpectedly high olfactory sensitivity, challenging the 'microsmatic' primate concept.
    • Olfaction likely plays a significant, underestimated role in primate behavior.
    • The study necessitates a revision of the traditional view of primates as predominantly visual animals.