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Hair pulling and eating in captive rhesus monkey troops
Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Rhesus monkeys exhibit hair pulling and eating, a behavior observed more in dominant individuals and younger animals. This aggressive disorder may stem from adjustment problems in stressful environments.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Ethology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Hair pulling and eating (trichophagia) is a poorly understood behavior in nonhuman primates.
- This study addresses the lack of research on trichophagia in rhesus monkeys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document and analyze the occurrence and characteristics of hair pulling and eating in rhesus monkeys.
- To investigate potential causes and social correlates of this behavior.
Main Methods:
- Observations of hair pulling and eating in two rhesus monkey troops.
- Analysis of behavior patterns, including method of hair removal, social direction, and age/dominance factors.
Main Results:
- Hair pulling and eating was observed 388 times, predominantly partner-directed (96%) and performed by dominant individuals (96%).
- Younger monkeys (2-8 years) engaged in this behavior more frequently than older monkeys (10-26 years).
- No evidence linked the behavior to nutritional, toxicological, or climatic factors.
Conclusions:
- Hair pulling and eating in rhesus monkeys appears to be an aggressive behavioral disorder.
- The behavior reflects adjustment difficulties in response to environmental stressors.
- Findings suggest parallels with trichotillomania in humans and similar disorders in other species.