Relative brain size,stratification, and social structure in anthropoids

The relationships between relative brain size and both stratification and social structure were examined in a total of 82 species of anthropoids. The species were divided into a total of 42 congeneric groups which consisted of congeneric species with similar ecologies and social structures. The relative brain size (RBS) was calculated for each congeneric group in each superfamily, based on an allometric equation describing the relationship between brain weight and body weight for each superfamily. Among congeneric groups with a common category of diet, RBS was significantly greater for terrestrial groups than for arboreal groups, and for polygynous (i.e. multi-female) groups than for monogynous (single-female) groups. Furthermore, RBS was significantly and positively correlated with the size of the home range per individual for the Cercopithecoidea, and with troop size for frugivorous groups of the Ceboidea. The results obtained suggest that factors associated with terrestriality and polygyny have been involved in the increases in relative brain size of anthropoids.