title: A comparison of adult body size between captive and wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) on the island of St. Kitts.
abstract: Weight and 34 morphological measurements were obtained from 103 vervet monkeys living either in the wild or in captive colonies derived from the wild populations on the island of St. Kitts in the Eastern Caribbean. All measures were taken during the same week, eliminating bias that might result from changing seasonal environmental conditions. Vervets on St. Kitts are all descended from a small number of individuals brought to the island approximately 400 years ago from West Africa, thus eliminating bias that might result from subspecific size differences. We conducted a principal components analysis (PCA) and compared individual traits between captive and wild adult animals. Morphological measures such as body, arm, and leg length did not differ significantly between animals living in the wild and animals in captivity. Weight and measures indicating condition-including body mass index (BMI), chest, thigh, and upper arm girth were all higher for animals living in captivity. More consistent available food is probably the cause of differences in measures reflecting condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sabin Hall 125B, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA. trudy@uwm.edu.
authors.forename: Trudy R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8615-442X
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Sociology, Anthropology, and Women's Studies Program, American Military University and American Public University, Charles Town, WV, 25414, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer Danzy
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, Lower Bourryeau Estate, St. Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nisbett
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sabin Hall 125B, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patrick Gray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D049628:Body Size; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D058865:Introduced Species; D008297:Male; D019437:Saint Kitts and Nevis
keywords: Adult body size; Captive; Vervet monkey; Wild