Captive spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) arm-raise to solicit allo-grooming.
Old World monkeys solicit allo-grooming from conspecifics. However, there are relatively few studies of allo-grooming among spider monkeys, and descriptions of allo-grooming solicitation among spider monkeys are anecdotal. In this study, eighty-one hours of video, shot over eight weeks, captured 271 allo-grooming bouts among small groups of captive spider monkeys. Six of eight monkeys made heretofore unreported arm-raises that solicited higher than normal rates of allo-grooming. Allo-grooming bout durations following arm-raises also tended to be longer than bouts not preceded by arm-raises. The efficacy of the arm-raise at soliciting allo-grooming suggests spider monkeys are capable of intentional communication.
Carroll University, United States. mscheel@carrollu.edu
Matthew H
MH
Scheel
Dori
D
Edwards
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D053819:Atelinae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006120:Grooming / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*