/r/primatology
Primatology, primates, anthropology
/r/primatology
I've always wondered why the back of male gorillas' heads are taller than the females'. However, when I look it up, it says that the crest is larger in the male to give him a stronger bite for food. Does this mean males and females have different diets?
Are the 1st mandibular premolars of New World monkeys classified as sectorial?
Hi! I'm looking for book recommendations, I want to know about neuroscience and behavior of primates. Thanks! 😊
Documentary on tool usage amongst seaside-dwelling macaques. Documentary featuring and discussing macaques using rocks and stones as tools to open clams, snails, and other mollusks to eat the meat inside. Also explores techniques used by the macaques and the social learning involved in passing on the methods via proto-culture across multiple generations.
Sorry this is going to be a little vague and long.
One of the monkeys I care for has been hospitalized due to a severe arm wound as well as another disease. While we handle her medical issues, I am concerned for her psychological wellbeing as she is of course not interested in any puzzles, food, or really anything she will have to move to engage in. I am trying to figure out some simple enrichment ideas we can do for her. Her hospital cage is small, so it is important that she be able to turn away or otherwise not participate in the enrichment if she does not like it. Therefore music is out. TV is an option with the sound off, and was popular with chimpanzees I have cared for before, but I don't know if monkeys also like TV or if it will scare her. What I don't want is for her to be scared of the enrichment and us not be able to tell because she is so subdued. We also don't have a TV for the monkeys, and she is in our tiny vet clinic where there's not really space to set one up if I brought mine from home. I can play her videos on my phone when im on break, but i use my phone for work. She is also decidedly not people oriented, so hanging out with her is a no. However she isn't generally a very scared monkey, she has a lot of confidence. But she also usually has her boyfriend to back her up, so I suspect she is a little more nervous than usual.
I am planning to provide a mirror for her as she has enjoyed mirrors in the past, but does anyone else have ideas? We don't have very much in the way of sensory enrichment (mostly because the monkey enclosures don't have electricity run to them), but I am willing to bring things form my house if you have suggestions that are common in a human household. In general the goal is to let her rest but provide something at least a little stimulating if she wishes to engage in it. I think we might also have a bubble machine somewhere in the enrichment room.
Thank you for any ideas you have for our independent lady!
I know gorillas are primarily herbivores, however if they did eat meat would they be able to adapt to hunting? Why or why not?
I mean they are huge and ripped, and their diet is 80 percent fruit. How is this done? Human hunter gatherers look scrawney and lean, but chimps are ripped.
The following video is from a YouTuber I follow who lives in Bali and documents her experiences working at the Bali Monkey Rescue sanctuary. I posted a video of hers previously asking what could be done to help this elderly monkey whose legs had suffered paralysis or at least difficulty in usage. Unfortunately this monkey succumbed to her injuries and the abuse she suffered as an ex-pet took its toll. She seemed like a sweet innocent macaque and I’m sure she will be missed by everyone at the sanctuary.
First link is my original post, second link is the video about her passing - TRIGGER WARNING as it is sad to see and may be difficult to watch for some.
I am in highschool and want to know good degrees and colleges to go to for a primatology degree in the United States.
Hello! I am currently a 1st yr Graduate student studying primate behavior. I've been given the (wonderful yet daunting) task of finding field schools that are open to Graduate students trying to perform thesis research.
Primate Info Net has been helpful, but I wanted to create an informal forum where people can add field schools they've attended or heard about, as well as their experiences. Field Schools or Captive-Care facilities that allow independent research for thesis work are preferred, but internships or CV/Resume builders are also welcomed :)
Here is a small list that I compiled from my personal experience, word-of-mouth, and online:
Camaquiri Conservation Initiative | Location: Costa Rica
Institute for Tropical Ecology & Conservation, Bocas del Toro Biological Station | Location: Panama
Maderas Rainforest Conservancy | Location: Costa Rica & Nicaragua
Field Projects International, Los Amigos Biological Station | Location: Peru
Semliki Chimpanzee Project Field School | Location: Uganda
Kyoto University, Primatology and Wildlife Science Short-term Internship Program | Location: Japan
Caribbean Primate Research Center, apply for research or undergraduate training | Location: Puerto Rico
ChimpHaven Internships | Location: Louisiana, USA
Lemur Conservation Foundation Internship, Research Projects, Field school | Location: Florida, USA
Lincoln Park Zoo Lester E. Fisher Center Internships | Location: Illinois, USA
Little Fireface Project Internship | Location: Indonesia
Peaceable Primate Sanctuary Internship | Location: Indiana, USA
Pacific Primate Sanctuary Internship | Location: Hawaii, USA
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center Internships | Location: Costa Rica
Para La Tierra Primatology Field Course | Location: Paraguay
The Ikamaperu Project Internship | Location: Peru
If any of the programs listed above have participated in any unethical behavior or practices towards animals, employees, or participants, then please comment your concerns and the program will be removed.
NOTE: This page is for primate research and conservation. This post is opposed to owning primates as pets or touching primates for entertainment. Human homes are not the proper physical or social environment for primates. Human-primate physical contact can transmit zoonotic diseases that threaten both humans and primates. These programs are not for individuals who want to touch primates for fun.
Does anyone know how Florida's colony of Vervet monkeys is doing after Hurricane Helene?
Hello to everyone!
I am a medical doctor, soon to decide which route to take for my residency (surgery, Psychiatry or forensics) and I have a big interest in primatology (for now it is only an amateur thing, nothing serious) I wanted to ask if you have any notion of doctors who became primatologist and what is the best way in your opinion Thanks!!
I'm considering this as a possible career, but what are the pros and cons? Im guessing a pro I'd enjoy is hanging out with Primates, as they're my favorite animals, but finding cons other then being away from home for long periods of time has been like pulling teeth
In Chimp Empire, this is when the Westerners chase Bartoli and Herzog into the canopy! This is the moment when Herzog was supposedly protecting her from the "attacker!".. Looks like the attacker was actually a MATER! If it was an attack, why is she letting the male get right behind her?!... Makes for a good story and im sure stuff like that happens but this obviously wasn't 1 of the cases! Herzog tried to break up the action like he did with Bartoli and Jackson is what I'm believing this to be! Anyone else with thoughts? And sorry I'm BIG into Chimpanzee behavior and I watched documentaries over and over. Almost like Dissecting em.
Are the great apes (orangutans,chimpanzees,gorillas,bonobos) population increasing?Is there population being saved?
I'm an Asian Studies major thinking about adding the Anthropology major to pursue primatology. Is there anything else to do?
Any, all?
https://macaques.nc3rs.org.uk/macaque-behaviour-quiz
Short quiz on macaque behaviors and welfare indicators. I’m just a lay primatology enthusiast but I think I still did pretty good - I got 13/15 correct!
Only questions I missed dealt with activity budget, I thought they spent only 10-20% of their time foraging but apparently it’s closer to 20-40% their time. I also missed the question on the “Coo call” vocalization. When I think of “coo” vocalization I think more of the infant macaque calling his mother to carry him, or their disappointed cooing when mom starts weaning them and blocks the teat. But yeah, I totally forgot about the coo/hoot also being used as a proximity call by the adults and other troop members 😅
This website I found has a lot of good info on behavior and welfare. It seems like this was written for people just starting to work with macaques and is written toward ensuring care standards, welfare, and ethical management of captive populations. I know there are probably tons of other resources out there especially on macaques, but this one caught my eye and as a laymen who simply studies primatology as a hobby I thought I’d just share it with the community 🐵🐒
Is being a primatologist hard to find?Fpr what I mean is it hard to find a job that needs a primatologist?
I know this is a very niche and tailored topic, but I wanted to ask if anyone could recommend any and all Books, articles, or other noteworthy reading material on religious and/or ritualistic behavior among primates and how human religon may have evolved over millions of years from that. Thank!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HfDdshlrfno
A macaque at a sanctuary in Bali, Indonesia has what looks like paraplegia or at least paralysis. As an ex-pet that was rescued she’s obviously been through it as the video shows, the pet trade is really bad over there.
Anyway, I know for paralyzed cats dogs etc they can make little wheelchairs or little boot prosthetic things but what about for a monkey? As a lay primatology enthusiast I follow several sanctuaries on social media and have even donated to several. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that for primates. It would be incredibly difficult to fashion something like that because it’s not just a paw or pad it’s a fully articulated extremity. Even if the technology is out there it would be prohibitively expensive especially for third world such as Indonesia.
So aside from meds and possibly physical therapy I’m not sure anything more can be done? 😢🐒
To maybe key a family or even species. Like a checklist of characteristics that lead you closer to the animal you're attempting to identify and key. Those who do or have done biology should know what I mean.
I just started watching Chimp Empire on Netflix recently. When Jackson, the alpha of the chimp tribe being filmed, showed up, I thought he was a gorilla because he was super big and muscular and had silver/gray hairs all over his lower back. The biggest chimpanzee in the show, Miles, also has that silver hair. Ive tried googling it but havent gotten any answers, so wanted to know if theres a reason for this other than their hair graying due to old age or it just being dust from sitting down or something.