Social organization in a group of free-ranging patas monkeys

A free-ranging group of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) was studied at the Caribbean Primate Research Center through parts of a complete seasonal cycle. Analysis of the data revealed that dispersal was the major strategy utilized by individuals in the performance of intragroup social behavior. Dominance phenomena were not found to be of major importance in the organization of intragroup social behavior despite the presence of a linear, stable dominance hierarchy among the adult females. The data further suggested that genealogical relationships were relatively insignificant in their effect on the patterning of intragroup behavior.