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Infanticide in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys, Cebus olivaceus.
X Valderrama1, S Srikosamatara, J G Robinson
1Department of Wildlife and Range Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Infanticide in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) was observed in three cases. While females often conceived soon after, infanticidal males rarely improved their reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Animal reproductive strategies
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Infanticide is a reproductive strategy observed in various species.
- Understanding the social and reproductive consequences of infanticide is crucial for evolutionary biology.
Observation:
- Three cases of infanticide were documented in a well-studied population of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) in Venezuela.
- The social context and reproductive outcomes for the infanticidal males were analyzed for each case.
- In one instance, the infanticidal male likely killed his own offspring, while in two other cases, the victims were unrelated.
Findings:
- In all three observed cases, the females conceived during the subsequent breeding season.
- However, in only one out of the three cases did the infanticidal male potentially benefit his own reproductive success.
- These findings suggest complex dynamics between infanticide and male reproductive strategies in this species.
Implications:
- The study provides valuable data for evaluating current hypotheses on the evolutionary drivers of infanticide.
- Results highlight that infanticide does not always directly translate to increased reproductive success for the male.
- Further research on primate social behavior and reproductive tactics is warranted.