Social relations between fathers and offspring in a captive group of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Analysis of social relations between adult males and immatures of known paternity in a captive group of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) revealed that fathers and offspring associated significantly more than other male-immature dyads. This association was highly variable, however, and there was no evidence of active preference for or investment in offspring by fathers. The tendency of offspring to approach fathers more often than other males appeared to account for the pattern of selective association. Preferential father-offspring association occurred whether or not mothers were in proximity to fathers, but mothers' associations with males did predict their offspring's, especially for the younger juveniles and the infants. It is possible that long-term social relationships between mothers and fathers lead to father-offspring association, but a year-to-year pattern of shifting mating preferences in the group weakens this hypothesis.