Parental Care in a Group of Free-Ranging Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta )Parental Care in a Group of Free-Ranging Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta )

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe and explore the significance of parental activities among Macaca mulatta. The phylogeny of care-giving behavior and the terminology that has been used in reference to it are discussed briefly.The focus of the paper is the presentation of original data from a continuous 15-month study of a free-ranging social group of rhesus monkeys in which the birth date and the mother of most individuals were known. Care giving was ubiquitous in the social group. Sex differences were minimal and, for the most part, quantitative rather than qualitative. The purpose of this paper is to describe and explore the significance of parental activities among Macaca mulatta. The phylogeny of care-giving behavior and the terminology that has been used in reference to it are discussed briefly.The focus of the paper is the presentation of original data from a continuous 15-month study of a free-ranging social group of rhesus monkeys in which the birth date and the mother of most individuals were known. Care giving was ubiquitous in the social group. Sex differences were minimal and, for the most part, quantitative rather than qualitative.