Abstract
Some nonhuman primates use tools to modify the behavior of other animals in social contexts. For example, during their proceptive periods, female bearded capuchins (Sapajus libidinosus) in two wild groups throw stones and push branches toward males, which may function to draw male attention to the females. To further clarify the social and communicative relevance of this behavior, we recorded all occurrences of object use in a captive group (one adult male and four females) at Brasília Zoo, during 963 h of observation. Additionally, we recorded the occurrence of typical proceptive behaviors and quantified behavioral changes of the male associated with throwing behavior. All females threw objects, such as stones and sticks, at the male (N = 205 events). One of the females also pounded objects near the male (N = 72). The two forms of object use were associated with female proceptivity. Male-directed throws increased the chances of the male changing his behavior, particularly by shifting his attention to the thrower, supporting the hypothesis that throwing at the male function as a communicative act. However, females also used aimed throwing in affiliative contexts (N = 2) and interactions with humans (N = 102) and other animals (N = 61). Thus, our results show that aimed throwing is a flexible behavior, elicited in multiple social contexts and for different purposes. Moreover, our study demonstrates that considering the effects of object use on the behavior of potential targets can help us to understand how primates use objects to mediate communication.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Dr Joanna Setchell, Dr. Amanda Melin, and two anonymous reviewers for their extremely helpful and stimulating comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. We thank the Fundação Jardim Zoológico de Brasília (FJZB) staff, particularly their research board, for permission to conduct data collection. We also thank Patrícia Izar and Mônica P. G. Martinez for their comments. RMF was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).
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RMF, MRC, and FDCM conceived and designed the study. RMF collected data. RMF and FDCM analyzed the data. RMF and FDCM wrote the manuscript. MRC provided editorial advice.
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Mucury Filho, R., Camargo, M.R. & Mendes, F.D.C. Male-Directed Object Use by Proceptive Female Bearded Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Captivity. Int J Primatol 42, 187–200 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-020-00195-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-020-00195-y