Fish: a new addition to the diet of Japanese macaques on Koshima Island.
Recently, Japanese macaques on Koshima Island have begun to eat raw fish. This new habit was first observed in 1979, in adult males that live on the periphery of the group of macaques. The habit was first transmitted to the old dominant females in the group and then spread gradually to most other members of the group over the next 6 years. However, Koshima macaques do not appear to have a particular liking for fish. The eating of fish is discussed in relation to recent nutritional conditions in the macaques' habitat.
Watanabe
K
K
Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005518:Food Preferences; D007564:Japan; D008251:Macaca / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree