Comments on oral grooming by patas monkeys, including a comparison with rhesus macaques

Observations of the motor patterns used by patas monkeys during allogrooming indicate that this species uses oral movements much more than previously believed. Compared to rhesus macaques, patas show more mouthpicks and licks, and fewer handpicks. Despite behavioral and anatomical evidence for good precision gripping, patas usually remove debris from a partner's fur orally rather than manually.