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Play as physical flexibility training in five ceboid primates

R P Fontaine1

  • 1Psychology Department, Bucknell University.

Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|September 1, 1994
PubMed
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Play in ceboid monkeys enhances physical flexibility. This study found that play involves more suspension and varied locomotion, supporting its role in training arboreal primates for agility.

Area of Science:

  • Primate Ethology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Play behavior is common in juvenile animals, but its precise functions are debated.
  • In arboreal primates, physical flexibility is crucial for survival and foraging.
  • Previous research has not fully explored play's role in developing physical skills.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of play in ceboid monkeys as physical flexibility training.
  • To analyze positional behaviors during play versus nonplay across five different ceboid species.
  • To test the hypothesis that play enhances physical flexibility in arboreal primates.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted an optimal design field study using instantaneous focal animal sampling.
  • Collected 98,261 observations of positional behavior (posture and locomotion) in adults and juveniles.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed 67 distinct modes of positional behavior during play and nonplay across five species: Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, Cacajao calvus, Cebus capucinus, and Saimiri boliviensis.

    • Main Results:

    • Play was characterized by significantly increased rates of suspension and nonquadrupedal locomotion.
    • Play involved significantly reduced rates of quadrupedal locomotion, particularly quadrupedal walking.
    • These behavioral patterns during play were consistent across all five studied ceboid species.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings support the hypothesis that play functions as physical flexibility training in arboreal primates.
    • Play behavior appears to promote the development of both dynamic and static flexibility.
    • The role of play in enhancing physical adaptability is compatible with other functional interpretations.