Social primates display affiliative behaviors like embracing which is also considered a reconciliatory behavior for repairing inter-individual relationships during post-conflict events. We studied embracing behavior in one group of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Huangshan, Anhui Province. Our results showed that embracing in male Tibetan monkeys included three forms: embrace without touching genital (EWG), embrace with genital touching (ETG) and embrace with genital licking (EGL). Both EWG and ETG occurred more frequently than EGL. These three types of embracing behaviors mainly occurred in non-conflict contexts, but ETG occurred more often in the context of conflict. The frequency of EWG decreased but the frequency of ETG increased, with increased age of individuals. In adult males, embrace often occurred between individuals with similar social rank, the frequency of embrace acceptance was also positively correlated social rank. Higher ranked individuals received embraces more frequently. The frequency of embrace initiation was also positively correlated with their social bonds. Based on these results, we suggest that embracing behavior could reflect a self-recognition of social rank and it serves an important function of increasing social bonds among adult male Tibetan macaques.
LIU Yiming, WANG Xi, ZHANG Qixin, FANG Xingli, LI Jinhua
. Embracing behavior in male Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana)at Mt. Huangshan[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2019
, 39(6)
: 614
-622
.
DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150297