Token mediated tool exchange between tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).
Three experiments were conducted to test whether a pair of tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) could generalize their ability to exchange tokens and tool objects with a human experimenter to similar exchanges with a conspecific partner. Monkeys were tested in side-by-side enclosures, one enclosure containing a tool-use apparatus and one or more token(s), and the other enclosure containing one or more tool object(s). The monkeys willingly transferred tokens and tools to a conspecific with little practice. Following a small amount of training, we also found that the monkeys would select situation-appropriate tokens to exchange for specific tools, but did not select appropriate tool objects in response to another monkey's token transfers. Implications regarding role reversal are discussed.
Westergaard
Gregory Charles
GC
Alpha Genesis, Inc., 95 Castle Hall Road, P.O. Box 557, Yemassee, SC 29945, USA.
Evans
Theodore Avery
TA
Howell
Sue
S
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D002428:Cebus / Q000523:psychology*; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053001:Tool Use Behavior