Responses of mother squirrel monkeys to dead infants

The responses of mother squirrel monkeys to infants were examined by testing the mothers with bodies of their own and other infants. Mothers whose infants were stillborn or died at one day of age showed strong and equivalent maternal responses to all the bodies with which they were presented, while those whose infants died after two weeks of age responded mainly to the body of their own infant. These results suggest that the female squirrel monkey becomes more selective in responding to the body of a dead infant with the passage of time after parturition. The female's post-parturient condition appears to be the prime cause for changes in her responsiveness, although other factors related to the infant's growth and development might also be important.Supported by Grant HD 04905 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.