Squirrel monkey dominance and social behavior as related to group size and group structure

Adult male and female squirrel monkeys were tested in nonsocial adaptation and pairwise and triad social situations differing in sex composition. Social behaviors, nonsocial behaviors, and dominance hierarchies were observed during social testing. Dominance hierarchies were similar in groups differing in size and social structure. Nonsocial behaviors decreased in females and submissive animals paired with males or dominant monkeys. Aggressiveness between females decreased and the beginnings of coalitions between females were observed in the presence of a male. The social behavior patterns, but not dominance hierarchies, are consistent with behaviors observed in larger groups of squirrel monkeys.