Interspecific interactions between wild pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) and red colobus (Colobus badius)

Interspecific interactions accompanied by physical contacts between wild pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) and red colobus (Colobus badius) were observed on three occasions at Wamba, Republic of Zaire. In all cases, the red colobus initiated the interactions by approaching the pygmy chimpanzees. Most of the pygmy chimpanzees, which were within 5 m of the red colobus, were juveniles or infants but the adult male pygmy chimpanzees never showed any interest in the red colobus. The red colobus groomed the chimpanzees in two cases, but the latter never groomed the former. No true aggressive interactions were observed between the two species. The lack of any evidence of hunting of red colobus through longitudinal studies of the pygmy chimpanzees of Wamba, together with the present observations, suggests that red colobus are probably not targets of hunting by the pygmy chimpanzees.     

The harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) midden: refuse or boundary?

Abstract. 1. P.badius Latreille, a harvester ant of the southern U.S.A., surrounds its nest mound with small bits of charcoal, previously believed to be incidental refuse, along with other components of the colony's midden.
2. Charcoal middens were removed from the nest mounds of colonies in northern Florida. These colonies collected new charcoal and replaced the middens within 7 days.
3. Activity rhythms, use of space, and interspecific aggression were compared in experimental and control colonies. When middens were removed, the frequency of invasions of the nest mounds by other species of ants increased. Foreign ants circled the nest mound and interfered with colony activities. Increased numbers of invading ants led to an increase in patrolling and defensive behaviour by the P.badius colonies.
4. The charcoal midden is not merely refuse. Instead, it acts as a boundary that deters ants of other species from coming onto the P.badizls nest mound. Ants may use charcoal bits as a repository of a chemical substance functioning as a territorial marker.     

Full-length genome characterization of a novel simian immunodeficiency virus lineage (SIVolc) from olive Colobus (Procolobus verus) and new SIVwrcPbb strains from Western Red Colobus (Piliocolobus badius badius) from the Tai Forest in Ivory Coast

Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) are found in an extensive number of African primates and humans continue to be exposed to these viruses by hunting and handling of primate bushmeat. Full-length genome sequences were obtained from SIVs derived from two Colobinae species inhabiting the Taï forest, Ivory Coast, each belonging to a different genus: SIVwrc from western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius badius) (SIVwrcPbb-98CI04 and SIVwrcPbb-97CI14) and SIVolc (SIVolc-97CI12) from olive colobus (Procolobus verus). Phylogenetic analysis showed that western red colobus are the natural hosts of SIVwrc, and SIVolc is also a distinct species-specific lineage, although distantly related to the SIVwrc lineage across the entire length of its genome. Overall, both SIVwrc and SIVolc, are also distantly related to the SIVlho/sun lineage across the whole genome. Similar to the group of SIVs (SIVsyk, SIVdeb, SIVden, SIVgsn, SIVmus, and SIVmon) infecting members of the Cercopithecus genus, SIVs derived from western red and olive colobus, L'Hoest and suntailed monkeys, and SIVmnd-1 from mandrills form a second group of viruses that cluster consistently together in phylogenetic trees. Interestingly, the divergent SIVcol lineage, from mantled guerezas (Colobus guereza) in Cameroon, is also closely related to SIVwrc, SIVolc, and the SIVlho/sun lineage in the 5′ part of Pol. Overall, these results suggest an ancestral link between these different lentiviruses and highlight once more the complexity of the natural history and evolution of primate lentiviruses.     

Correlates of Ranging Behavior in a Group of Red Colobus Monkeys (Colobus badius tephrosceles)

Data are presented from 17 months of systematic sampling ofthe food habits, ranging patterns and distribution of food ofa group of red colobus monkeys. No positive or negative correlationswere found between the diversity of ranging patterns and thediversity of diet, distribution of food species, or percentageof young growth in the diet. There was, however, a significantcorrelation between the diversity of ranging pattern and thenumber of days per monthly sample that the group was proximalto or had aggressive encounters with another group of red colobusmonkeys.     

中国小竹鼠生态的初步研究

小竹鼠在我国仅分布于云南西部热带亚热带地区。主要生活于山坡稀树灌丛、阔叶林、橡胶园及居民点附近。在盈江县分布于海拔300-950米地带。取食、休息、繁殖主要在洞道内。洞系由洞口、取食道、趋避道、窝及“厕所”组成。食物主要有棕叶芦、芦竹及三叶橡胶等18种,尤喜食橡胶树主根,因而对橡胶树危害很大。13号标本中雌7雄6。在盈江每胎2-3只,以2只为多。成年小竹鼠过独居生活,雌雄各有自己的洞系。     

Functional implications of enamel thickness in the lower molars of red colobus (Procolobus badius) and Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether teeth are likely to retain their functional efficiency throughout an individual's life time. This was done by comparing the enamel volume, the cross-sectional enamel area and the pattern of enamel distribution on unworn M(2)s of folivorous (Procolobus badius: red colobus; n=8) and frugivorous (Macaca fuscata: Japanese macaque; n=6) cercopithecids. The enamel volume of M. fuscata is significantly greater than that of P. badius. As the lower molars of colobines become worn, the dentine is exposed on the buccal cusps and narrow enamel rims are formed around the dentine exposures. The buccal enamel rims are especially well-developed and sharp, a pattern that has probably been selected for as being advantageous for shredding fibrous plant materials. The results of this study demonstrate that the enamel on the lingual side of the protoconid, where dentine exposure occurs first, is much thinner in P. badius than it is in M. fuscata. In addition, the dentine is exposed and thin enamel rims are formed faster in P. badius than in M. fuscata. Also, P. badius has significantly thinner and more uniform enamel distribution on the buccal wall of the crown and a higher protoconid. The buccal flare is well-developed in M. fuscata, but poorly developed in P. badius. It is tentatively suggested that the undeveloped flare and thinner enamel of P. badius combine to enable this species to maintain narrow rims, even after dental attrition, while the high cusps may be an adaptation for providing narrow enamel rims throughout life.     

Ranging behaviour and its relation to diet selection in Tana River Red colobus (Colobus badius rufomitratus)

Ranging behaviour of a group of Red colobus monkeys, Colobus badius rufomitratus, on the Tana River, Kenya, is described. The main study group had a mean day journey of 603 in and an annual range area of 9 ha (measured in 0.25 ha quadrats). Relationships between ranging patterns and diet selection are sought on both spatial and temporal dimensions. Differential use of the annual range is related to the distribution of major food species, while the diversity of monthly ranging patterns is inversely related to the availability of young growth in the canopy. These findings lead to a discussion of why range areas at the Tana are much smaller than those reported from rain-forest sites.     

Biotransformation of quinoxaline by Streptomyces badius

J.B. SUTHERLAND, F.E. EVANS, J.P. FREEMAN AND A.J. WILLIAMS. 1996. Quinoxaline, a mutagenic azaarene produced in foods during cooking, was added to cultures of Streptomyces badius ATCC 39117. After 24 h, the cultures were extracted with extracted with ethyl acetate. Two major metabolites were purified by liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as 3,4–dihydro-2(1 H )-quinoxalinone and 2(1 H )-quinoxalinone.     

毛腿鼠耳蝠、亚洲长翼蝠和栗鼠耳蝠斑驳白化现象

斑驳白化是一种先天性颜色失调表型,在翼手目中较为罕见。2016年5月至8月期间,分别在3个省份共发现3种存在斑驳白化现象蝙蝠。在河南省内乡县七里坪乡北湾村,发现1只怀孕雌性斑驳白化毛腿鼠耳蝠(Myotis fimbriatus),斑驳区域包括背部左侧区域及腹部左侧边缘一带。在陕西省柞水县下梁镇,发现1只怀孕雌性斑驳白化亚洲长翼蝠(Miniopterus fuliginosus),斑驳部位包括背部下端、腹部底端股骨边缘、左右股骨、尾骨及小部分尾膜区域。在云南省晋宁县双河乡法古甸村,发现2只斑驳白化雄性栗鼠耳蝠(Myotis badius),斑驳区域分别为背部左下侧和背颈部一侧,区域面积较小。其中,毛腿鼠耳蝠和栗鼠耳蝠的斑驳白化现象为国内首次报道。此外,通过测量蝙蝠体重、前臂长等体型参数,并与同种正常个体进行比较,发现斑驳白化亚洲长翼蝠体重偏大,1只斑驳白化栗鼠耳蝠前臂长偏大,其余斑驳白化蝙蝠体型数据均在正常范围内,表明斑驳白化现象对蝙蝠的正常生存与繁殖未造成严重影响。这为将来斑驳白化蝙蝠的生理生态研究提供科学依据。     

Patterns of size variation and correlation in the dentition of the red colobus monkey (Colobus badius)

There have been numerous studies on variability and correlation in dental crown size, but the significance of the resulting patterns remains unclear. Regions of low variation and high correlation have been hypothesized to represent the poles of Butler's morphological fields, to be related to absolute tooth size, or to be related to morphological complexity of the teeth and functional efficiency. Variation and correlation of tooth lengths and breadths were investigated in 138 red colobus monkeys to further assess the relations among size associations, crown morphology, and absolute tooth size. In the maxilla and mandible, the postcanine teeth are the most highly correlated and least variable, followed by the incisors, then the canines. There are also lower correlations between premolars and molars than within either group. While there appears to be a relation between degree of morphological differentiation and levels of correlation and variation, there are no notable differences in the correlation of opponents along the dental arcade, which is the most important functional consideration. This suggests that different levels of correlation and variation within upper or lower teeth are “artifacts” of tooth dimensions that contribute to different geometric designs in different tooth groups as the germs develop. This morphological effect is coupled with the influence of integration fields, indicated by higher variability and lower correlations of the third molar, the largest or most molarized tooth. It is concluded that there are wide functional tolerances in occlusion with respect to the gross dimensions of dental crowns and their interrelationships.     

The role of phytochemistry in dietary choices of Tana River red colobus monkeys(Procolobus badius rufomitratus)

We conducted a phytochemical survey of tree species growing within the riverine forests of the Tana River National Primate Reserve in Kenya to understand better the feeding ecology of an endangered resident primate, the Tana River red colobus monkey (Procolobus badius rufomitratus).Young leaves, which make up a large percentage of this monkey's diet, are significantly higher in nitrogen and lower in acid detergent fiber than more abundant mature leaves are. Phenolic chemistry had little inhibitory effect on feeding by P. b. rufomitratus.Choice among tree species by P. b. rufomitratusappears to be influenced largely by leaf availability,once an acceptable threshold of nitrogen and fiber is reached When mature leaves are eaten, they selected species that are high in nitrogen and low in fiber. A significantly higher nitrogen content was found for the mature leaves of all leguminous versus nonleguminous tree species. Consequently, the availability of certain types of mature leaf species during periods of preferred food scarcity may prove critical to groups of Tana River red colobus monkeys.     

A note on the ecology of the red-colobus monkeys (Colobus badius tephrosceles) living in the Mahali Mountains

Red-colobus monkeys of the Mahali Mountains utilize many vegetation types; although their main habitat is composed of forest vegetation (gallery forest and montane forest), they sometimes penetrate into even theMiombo woodland.Red-colobus monkeys mainly live on leaves of trees, but sometimes eat flowers, fruits, and barks. Most of the plant leaves which the chimpanzees eat have proved to be delicacies to colobus monkeys also. Colobus monkeys live in compact bisexual groups, ranging from 30 to 50 in size. No solitary male has so far been observed.A colobus group living in the gallery forest moved 100 to 200 meters daily within its welldocumented home range. The home ranges of groups do not seem to overlap each other extensively.Their natural enemies are leopards, birds of prey and probably chimpanzees. The Tongwe inhabitants avail themselves of the colobus coat as part of their native bellows (mufuba) and some pagan inhabitants kill them for their meat.The research was financed by the Scientific Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and in part by the Wenner-Gren Foundation. This report is a part of the results of the Kyoto University Africa Primatological Expedition.     

Nutritional ecology of Preuss's red colobus monkey (Colobus badius preussi Rahm 1970) in Korup National Park, Cameroon

Studies on the nutritive ecology of red colobus monkeys (Colobus badius preussi) in Korup National Park, Cameroon, investigated food plants and the parts eaten as well as nutritive values of the various food items. Food plants were identified through direct observations and collected for laboratory determination of nutrient content. Food plants were analysed for crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen‐free‐extractive (NFE) and total ash (A). A total of seventeen species belonging to nine different families were identified as food plants for red colobus. Food and feeding habits showed that the species were highly folivorous, tending to prefer the young leaves of food plants. Lecomtedoxa klaineana (27.0%) and Xylopia aethiopica (22.2%) of families Sapotaceae and Annonaceae, respectively, constituted about 50% of total food items consumed. Results of nutrient composition indicated individual nutrients varied significantly (P < 0.01) with food species.