Adoption of a Wild orphaned ringtailed lemur infant by natal group members: Adaptive explanations |
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Authors: | Lisa Gould |
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Institution: | (1) Present address: Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, V8W-3P5 Victoria, B.C., Canada |
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Abstract: | In December 1992 an infant ringtailed lemur, approximately 7 weeks of age, was orphaned in one of the regularly-censused social
groups at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, southwestern Madagascar. The infant was initially adopted by a subadult (2 yr-old) male
from the group. Continuous-time focal animal data were collected for a 12-hr period, from the time that the infant was retrieved
by the young male, in order to document the adoption process. Ten members of the infant's social group (total group number=18)
engaged in infant care behaviors over the 12-hr period. The subadult male spent the most time engaged in infant care, and
he and one adult female exhibited the highest frequency of caregiving behaviors over the 12-hr period (p<0.001). Four adult males also initially cared for the infant. The orphan was one of only six infants in the reserve population
to survive that year. She was censused two years later as an adolescent member of her natal group. Adaptive explanations for
this adoption vary depending upon the care-giver. For the subadult male and adult female caregivers, kin selection can be
suggested, as the infant was related to all females and immature animals in the group. Adult males may have exhibited caregiving
behaviors as a strategy related to affiliation with adult females which could lead to potential mating and reproductive success. |
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Keywords: | Adoption Ringtailed lemur Orphan Adaptive explanations |
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