Sex differences in play behavior in juvenile tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

Paukner, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3421-1864 and Suomi, SJ, 2008. Sex differences in play behavior in juvenile tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Primates, 49 (4), pp. 288-291. ISSN 0032-8332

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Abstract

According to the motor training hypothesis, play behavior in juvenile primates improves motor skills that are required in later adult life. Sex differences in juvenile play behavior can therefore be expected when adult animals assume distinct sexually dimorphic roles. Tufted capuchin monkeys show sexually dimorphic levels of physical antagonism in both inter- and intragroup encounters. Accordingly, it can be predicted that juvenile capuchins also show sex differences in social play behavior. To test this hypothesis, the play behavior of nine juvenile and two infant capuchins was examined. As predicted, juvenile males showed significantly higher levels of social play (wrestle, chase) than juvenile females, but no differences were found in nonsocial play (arboreal, object). Levels of infant play behavior were comparable to that of juveniles. These results lend support to the motor training hypothesis and highlight the need for more detailed investigations of individual differences in play behavior.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Primates
Creators:	Paukner, A. and Suomi, S.J.
Publisher:	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date:	October 2008
Volume:	49
Number:	4
ISSN:	0032-8332
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1007/s10329-008-0095-0 DOI 1427795 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Lee Houghton
Date Added:	29 Mar 2021 11:24
Last Modified:	31 May 2021 15:05
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/42626

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