A field observation on color selection by New World sympatric primates, Pithecia pithecia and Alouatta seniculus.
This work characterizes differences in selection of Talisia retusa fruits by two sympatric Neotropical primates, Pithecia pithecia (white-faced sakis) and Alouatta seniculus (red howlers). Color appears to be the criterion by which fruits were selected. Greenish fruits were mainly eaten by Pithecia, while yellowish fruits by Alouatta. The characteristics of these primates in relation to seed predation and seed dispersal are discussed in the context of the Talisia retusa fruit color spectrum. Furthermore, a possible differential acquisition of chemical components, like tannins, is hypothetically treated considering the variation in fruit color.
Urbani
Bernardo
B
Escuela de Antropología, Universidad Central de Venezuela and Departamento de Antropologíia, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apartado 47.028, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela. urbani@cantv.net
D000508:Alouatta / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002427:Cebidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003116:Color; D003118:Color Perception; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D029631:Sapindaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D014687:Venezuela