Reproductive Biology of the Owl Monkey

Dixson, A. F.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-072405-5.50009-3

Cited by 27 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Mounting occurred more frequently than previously reported for Aotus (Dixson 1994;Fernandez-Duque et al 2002). Males mounted both cycling and pregnant females but never lactating females.…”

Section: Mounting Behaviorcontrasting

confidence: 50%

“…Further support for the hypothesis comes from the fact that males investigated the anogenital region of their mates more often than females did and there was an increased amount of anogenital inspection during observation periods with mounting. Such chemical communication may be especially important in the sociosexual behavior of Aotus because they lack visual signals of ovulation (Dixson 1994). Previous researchers noted urine-washing in Aotus Dixson 1994;Moynihan 1964;Wright 1989) but we are the first to report a sexual difference.…”

Section: Chemical Communicationmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Such chemical communication may be especially important in the sociosexual behavior of Aotus because they lack visual signals of ovulation (Dixson 1994). Previous researchers noted urine-washing in Aotus Dixson 1994;Moynihan 1964;Wright 1989) but we are the first to report a sexual difference. Urine-washing may have a communicative function, e.g., for territorial or reproductive advertisement (Evans 2003).…”

Section: Chemical Communicationmentioning

confidence: 90%

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Sociosexual Behavior and Chemical Communication of Aotus nancymaae

Wolovich

Evans²

2007

Int J Primatol

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Owl monkeys (Aotus spp.) are unique because they are the only nocturnal anthropoids. Though medical researchers have used them extensively, thorough descriptions of their social behavior are sparse. We examined in detail the social behavior of 12 male-female captive pairs of Aotus nancymaae over an entire year. We compared data from males and females to determine if there are sexual differences in scent-marking, allogrooming, and other sociosexual behavior. We compared observation periods with and without mounting to determine if any behavior is associated with mounting. We present previously unreported behaviors for Aotus including urine-drinking and a suite of behaviors that we consider to function in olfactory communication. Males and females differed in their rates of several sociosexual behaviors; males anogenitally sniffed, drank urine, touched, and marked their mates more frequently than females did. We confirm earlier suggestions that allogrooming is rare in Aotus and is associated with mounting. Pairs of owl monkeys did not regularly exhibit behaviors that are typical for most monogamous primates but instead displayed a unique suite of behaviors adapted for their nocturnal lifestyle.

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“…Mounting occurred more frequently than previously reported for Aotus (Dixson 1994;Fernandez-Duque et al 2002). Males mounted both cycling and pregnant females but never lactating females.…”

Section: Mounting Behaviorcontrasting

confidence: 50%

Section: Chemical Communicationmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Chemical Communicationmentioning

confidence: 90%

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Sociosexual Behavior and Chemical Communication of Aotus nancymaae

Wolovich

Evans²

2007

Int J Primatol

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“…rely heavily on olfactory communication. They use both urine and cutaneous secretions in their scent-marking behaviors and olfaction plays a prominent role in sexual recognition and aggression [Dixson, 1994;Hunter and Dixson, 1983a;Hunter et al, 1984b]. Captive owl monkeys have also been observed self-anointing with olfactory stimulating plants and millipedes [Zito et al, 2003].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Sex, age, and family differences in the chemical composition of owl monkey (Aotus nancymaae) subcaudal scent secretions

MacDonald

Fernández-Duque

Evans³

et al. 2007

American J Primatol

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Numerous behavioral studies have shown that animals use olfactory cues as inbreeding avoidance or kin avoidance mechanisms, implying that scent is unique to families. However, few studies have analyzed the chemical profile of a scent and ascertained the messages that are conveyed in scent secretions. Owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) are socially monogamous primates that utilize scent when interacting with foreign conspecifics. This suggests there is a difference in the chemical composition of scent marks. We chemically analyzed sub-caudal gland samples from three families of captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae). Samples were analyzed by capillary GC-MS and relative retention time and fragment pattern was compared with known standards. Gland samples were high in large plant-based shikikate metabolites and fatty ketones; alcohols, acids, and acetates were virtually absent. Gender, age, and family could be reliably classified using discriminant analysis (92.9, 100, and 100%, respectively). Female scent profiles were greater in concentration of aromatic plant metabolites, possibly the result of a different diet or physiological differences in female metabolism as compared to male. Offspring of adult age still living in their natal group showed a less complex chemical profile than their parents. Finally, each family had its own unique and complex chemical profile. The presence of family scent may play a role in mediating social interactions.

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“…In fact, the sexes are so similar in their external appearance that it is virtually impossible for a human observer standing on the ground to tell the sexes of individuals only a few meters above in a tree. In captive owl monkeys from Colombia (Aotus griseimembra; in the original publication referred to as A. trivirgatus griseimembra, but later renamed) there is a link between the amount of subcaudal gland secretion visible below the tail and sexual development (Dixson 1994;Dixson et al 1980). In females, the size and color of the nipples can change from very slight protrusion and pale skin-colored to noticeably protruding, dark pink-colored (M. Rotundo and E. Fernandez-Duque, pers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Growth and Development in Wild Owl Monkeys (Aotus azarai) of Argentina

Huck

Rotundo²,

Fernández-Duque

2011

Int J Primatol

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Life history predicts that in sexually dimorphic species in which males are the larger sex, males should reach sexual maturity later than females (or vice versa if females are the larger sex). The corresponding prediction that in sexually monomorphic species maturational rates will differ little between the sexes has rarely been tested. We report here sex differences in growth and development to adulthood for 70 female and 69 male wild owl monkeys (Aotus azarai). In addition, using evidence from natal dispersal and first reproduction (mean: 74 mo) for 7 individuals of known age, we assigned ages to categories: infant, 0-6 mo; juvenile, 6.1-24 mo; subadult, 24.1-48 mo; adult >48 mo. We compared von Bertalanffy growth curves and growth rates derived from linear piecewise regressions for juvenile and subadult females and males. Growth rates did not differ between the sexes, although juvenile females were slightly longer than males. Females reached maximum maxillary canine height at ca. 2 yr, about a year earlier than males, and females' maxillary canines were shorter than males'. Thus apart from canine eruption and possibly crown-rump length, the development of Azara's owl monkeys conforms to the prediction by life history that in monomorphic species the sexes should develop at similar paces.

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Reproductive Biology of the Owl Monkey

Cited by 27 publications

References 33 publications

Sociosexual Behavior and Chemical Communication of Aotus nancymaae

Sociosexual Behavior and Chemical Communication of Aotus nancymaae

Sex, age, and family differences in the chemical composition of owl monkey (Aotus nancymaae) subcaudal scent secretions

Growth and Development in Wild Owl Monkeys (Aotus azarai) of Argentina

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