Fate of ousted male residents of one-male bisexual troops of Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) at Jodhpur,Rajasthan, India

Little is known about the fate of adult male residents after they are ousted from bisexual one-male troops of Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) in the course of adult male replacements. In a long term study at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, it was possible to reconstruct partial life histories of several ousted residents. One resident was killed during the male change. Ousted residents did not regain residency despite their continued invasions into bisexual troops. It is assumed that the males' chances to take over and to defend a troop are restricted to an age of 9–14 years, when the males are in prime physical condition. One male became solitary for some months while trying to regain residency of his old troop, before joining some “alien” males. As a rule, males are likely to rejoin their own male bands if they are ousted after short periods of residency. If the residency exceeds 3 months then the ongoing structural change in the former band may prevent their reintegration. However, in such cases, ousted residents which belonged to the same band may reunite and mingle with another male band which lacks prime males. Weaned sons may follow their fathers after ousting. In the case of numerous weaned offspring, fathers and sons may together form at least temporary new male bands.     

Weaving a tight social net: Allogrooming in free-ranging female langurs (Presbytis entellus)

We studied grooming among adults of a one-male multifemale troop of free-ranging Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus)living near Jodhpur, India, for 9 years. The 11–13 females devoted about 6% of their day to allogrooming. Adult males, whose tenures averaged 2.2 years, were transient figures in the troop's history, as reflected by their rather peripheral role in the grooming network. Females groomed males 4–40 times more frequently (1006 episodes) than vice versa- (176 episodes). Adult females received 97% of all grooming from other adult females (6655 episodes). Although females exhibited an age- inversed dominance hierarchy, they did not compete for grooming access to particular troop mates. Dyads of all possible rank differences occurred as frequently as expected: 51% of grooming was directed up the hierarchy and 49% down it. Young, high- ranking individuals gave and received significantly more grooming than the oldest, low- ranking females did. The pattern seemed to be influenced by kin selection because of the presumably high degree of female relatedness. They invested most in troopmates with the highest reproductive value, i.e., the youngest individuals. This trend was coupled with a preference of closest kin (mothers and daughters). Reciprocity was the outstanding feature since all adult females groomed and were groomed by all others. Such a tight social net might establish the necessary cohesion during frequent territorial disputes with neighboring troops.     

Pubic symphyseal synostosis and sexual dimorphism of the pelvis inPresbytis cristata andPresbytis rubicunda

This study examines the relationship between public symphyseal synostosis and sexual dimorphism of the pelvis in two sympatric species ofPresbytis—P. cristata andP. rubicunda. Whereas no specimen ofP. cristata shows fusion of the interpubic joint, a high percentage of female (43.8%) and male (83.3%)P. rubicunda have a fused public symphysis. As females of both species are similar in body size, they are predicted to give birth to similarly sized newborns. Based on comparison with other anthropoids, the percentage dimorphism in the ischiopubic index inP. cristata andP. rubicuda suggests selection on pelvic capacity in relation to obstetrics. In species characterized by cephalopelvic constriction (i.e., the size of the fetal cranium closely approximates the capacity of the maternal birth canal), successful birth seems possible only by a hormonally induced increase in pelvic joint mobility during delivery. However, fusion of the interpubic joint obviates pelvic joint mobility. Consequently, this study tests the hypothesis thatP. rubicunda shows obstetric adaptations of the pelvis that are not found inP. cristata. The results show that pelvic capacity is larger in females than males in bothP. cristata andP. rubicunda; the sexual difference is most pronounced at the inlet. Moreover, the pattern of pelvic dimorphism is nearly identical between the species. When females of the two species are compared,P. rubicunda evidences a shorter distance between the sacroiliac and hip joints and a wider bituberous diameter. The former is related to interspecific differences in locomotion, and the latter is associated with obstetrics.     

黑叶猴和灰叶猴的线粒体DNA限制性片段长度多态研究

本文以15种限制性内切酶分析黑叶猴和灰叶猴种内及种间mtDNA多态。从各个样品中分别检出了41—50个酶切位点。综合15种限制内酶的酶切类型,在2只黑叶猴和2只灰叶猴中分别检出了两种限制性类型,并与其4个地理来源相对应。结合恒河猴和红面猴的资料,构建了4种猴科动物的分子系统树。结果表明,黑叶猴和灰叶猴种内的分歧分别始于30和35万年以前,两种叶猴的分离始于190万年以前,猴亚科和疣猴亚科的分离应早于1100万年。叶猴属在中国的扩散不是很晚才发生的。     

笼养白头叶猴夏季水分摄入与消耗的初步研究

叶片中的水分含量是白头叶猴水分的主要来源,占水分需求总量的８３．６８％,其它的１６．３２％来自于自由水。在笼养条件下,白头叶猴可饮用自来水,野生状态下,动物饮用露水或雨水。尽管饮水行为不是每天都有,但能经常观察到,特别是在夏季雨后．除了体表和呼吸系统的水分蒸发外,白头叶猴通过尿和粪便丢失的水分含量分别是４４．６８％和５５．３２％。     

Testicular histology of the dusky leaf monkey (presbytis obscura) as it relates to birth pattern in Peninsular Malaysia

The testicular histology of the dusky leaf monkey, Presbytis obscura,is described following a study of material from 16 adult males collected over a 13-month period in Peninsular Malaysia. The histological appearances were similar to those of the other cercopithecines studied so far. No seasonal variation in the height of the seminiferous epithelium was observed, and spermatogenesis was seen in all the adult testes. These findings suggest that males of this species are capable of breeding throughout the year. These results are discussed in relation to field observations of births of this species and to the birth patterns exhibited by other species of langur.     

Differential energy budget and monopolization potential of harem holders and bachelors in Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus): preliminary results

The demographic structure in the Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) population of Jodhpur is extreme, in that some single males monopolize harems with, on average, 25 adult females. It has been proposed that extratroop males, which live in all-male bands, inhabit low-quality habitats and suffer from reduced food provisioning and longer daily travel distances. To compare the resulting energetic consequences for harem holders and bachelors, I estimated their gross energy intake and daily energetic expenditures. This analysis revealed no clear-cut differences between the two classes of males in time spent feeding on provisioned food, daily path length, gross energy intake, and energy expenditure. Due to the small sample size and other limitations of the study design, the hypothesis under investigation can not be evaluated conclusively. The preliminary results suggest, however, that energy budgets of harem holders and bachelors do not differ markedly. The importance of direct ecological pressures to males for our understanding of variation in group composition is highlighted.     

Serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Platyrrhini and Catarrhini: A phylogenetic appraisal

We measured the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-OH-D₃) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25-[OH]₂-D₃) in 23 different Platyrrhines from four different genera and in 21 Catarrhines from six different genera in residence at the Los Angeles Zoo. The mean (±S.E.) serum concentration of 1,25-(OH)₂-D₃ was significantly greater in Platyrrhines (810 ± 119 pg/ml) than in Catarrhines (61 ± 5 pg/ml), suggesting that high circulating concentrations of the active vitamin D hormone were a characteristic of New World primates in both the Cebidae and Callitrichidae family. This increase in the serum concentration of 1,25-(OH)₂-D₃ is probably an adaptational response on the part of Platyrrhini to offset a relative decrease in the concentration of specific receptor for 1,25-(OH)₂-D₃ in target tissues for the hormone.