2023-09-07 13:15:08
Research reveals to what extent dominant male macaque monkeys of the species Macaca nigra (popularly known as the crested black macaque) have a “sense of justice” that leads them to defend not only their children but also weak individuals in altercations. of your group.
This study was carried out by a team including Anja Widdig and Daphne Kerhoas, both from the University of Leipzig as well as the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, both institutions in Germany.
Baby primates face many dangers. They depend on help to survive, especially in the first year of life. Mothers assume the main burden of parental care in primates. As the survival of their offspring is also essential for males to pass on their genes, parents can, for example, protect their offspring during conflicts. Many species of primates live in groups of several males and females.
On the other hand, great mating promiscuity raises the question of whether males can recognize all their sons and daughters as such.
The research team observed conflicts between young crested black macaques. The hatchlings often scream for help. In more than 3,600 hours of observation in three study groups, the researchers recorded more than 2,600 children’s cries for help. They then analyzed the reactions of the male macaques to the cries of the babies.
The researchers found that males were more likely to react to a calf’s cries if they were its father or if the calf or mother were friends with them.
In addition, males were more likely to react to the cries of the young if they were high in the group hierarchy, something linked to a greater probability of having sired many of those young, or if the young that screamed and their mother were low-ranking in terms of dominance, that is, particularly dependent on help.
A male macaque monkey of the species Macaca nigra in a threatening attitude. (Photo: Jerome Michelette (Macaca Nigra Project))
On the other hand, the response of the males to the cries of the offspring did not depend on the presence of the mother at the site of the conflict.
The authors of the study have concluded that male crested black macaques have some ability to discern which offspring they have sired. Despite this, males can even help unrelated offspring.
The study is titled “Do Wild, Male, Crested Macaques (Macaca nigra) Respond to the Screams of Infants Involved in Agonistic Interactions?” And it has been published in the academic journal International Journal of Primatology. (Source: NCYT from Amazings)
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