The Influence of Rearing Conditions on the Physical Growth of Captive Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata).

Abstract

ABSTRACT. To clarify the influence of rearing conditions on the growth of various body parts of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), two groups reared under different conditions, i.e., a group born and reared in open enclosures (Enclosure group) and another consisting of macaques born and reared in cages (Caged group), were somatometrically analyzed. Somatometric data on 36 measures of various body parts were collected from 77 males and 92 females. Growth in many body parts was smaller in the Caged group than in the Enclosure group. Body parts that exhibited large incremental increases were more sensitive to differences in rearing space at the infantile growth stage in both sexes. Recovery from delayed growth at the pubertal growth stage was found in many body parts. However, the size of some locomotor elements such as the wrist and hand, and ankle and foot strongly reflected limitations of space and changes due to this were irreversible. Females were more sensitive than males to such differences in rearing conditions. We conclude that open enclosures with ample rearing space are necessary for the innate growth of Japanese macaques to occur.

Effect of age on electrical nerve conduction in the somatosensory pathway and its correlation with somatometry and plasma concentrations of musculoskeletal enzymes in male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) held in captivity

“…In this field, non‐human primates (NHPs) constitute a unique biological model due to their phylogenetic proximity to humans, which is generating a continuum of knowledge between our understanding of the basic biology, behavior and social organization of diverse NHP species, and pre‐clinical research on numerous factors that influence their health . The genus most often used in biomedical research is Macaca spp ., and the rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatta ) is the species most commonly studied as a model for analyzing geographic dispersion and ecological variation in relation to the evolution of both living and fossil primates . The estimated life expectancy of these animals in conditions of captivity is 30 years, a fact that facilitates ontogenic studies and the determination of specific, age‐dependent physiological processes.…”

“…dispersion and ecological variation in relation to the evolution of both living and fossil primates. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The estimated life expectancy of these animals in conditions of captivity is 30 years, 10 a fact that facilitates ontogenic studies and the determination of specific, age-dependent physiological processes. It is well known that various biological functions, including behavior, cognition, locomotion, posture, mastication, the search for food and ingestion, reproduction and sociability change during ontogeny in a developmental process that seems to follow a lineal order correlated with corporal growth.…”

Malignant NK/T-Cell Lymphoma Associated with Simian Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in a Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata)

“…The rearing conditions were described in detail in our previous report [28]. The animal was a male Japanese macaque aged 4.6 years (yrs) and belonged to the Arashiyama troop.…”