Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) mothers huddle with their young offspring instead of adult females for thermoregulation.
It is unclear whom animals select to huddle with for thermoregulation. In this study, we investigated whom Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) mothers huddled with-their young offspring or other adult group members-when there is need for thermoregulation. We used a focal-animal sampling method, targeting 17 females at Katsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. A majority of huddling among adult females was recorded during winter season (December, January, and February). Females who had young (0- or 1-year-old) offspring huddled less frequently with other adult females compared to females who did not have young offspring in winter. However, including young offspring, the frequency of huddling with any other individuals did not differ by whether females had young offspring. Moreover, the females who did not have young offspring huddled with other adult females more often in cloudy than in sunny weather during winter season. In contrast, females who had young offspring increased huddling with their young offspring in cloudy than in sunny weather, but did not do so with other adult females. This study indicates that Japanese macaque mothers huddle with their young offspring instead of other adult females when there is need for thermoregulation.
Osaka University, Department of Ethology, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: ueno@hus.osaka-u.ac.jp.
Masataka
M
Ueno
Osaka University, Department of Ethology, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Masayuki
M
Nakamichi
D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005260:Female; D008251:Macaca / Q000502:physiology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D012621:Seasons; D012919:Social Behavior; D014887:Weather
Huddling; Japanese macaque; Maternal behavior; Thermoregulation behavior