Studies of free-ranging patas monkeys at La Parguera, Puerto Rico: 1977 problems and 1988 issues

The first portion of this paper addresses problems associated with studying the free-ranging patas monkeys on the island of Guayacan (La Parguera). Problems included those of the habitat, the animal records and markings, and the behavioral characteristics of the patas. The second portion of this paper addresses the recurring question of the role of kinship as a variable that organizes patas social behavior. As mother-infant interactions comprise the largest proportion of intragenealogical interactions, the organizing effects of kinship beyond this level of relatedness need to be more extensively studied.