Owl monkeysAotusspp in the wild and in captivity

Abstract

Owl monkeys Aotus spp have the potential to be a great model to accomplish a thorough integration of zoo and field research. Their most salient features are their nocturnal habits, monogamous social organization and paternal care, features that should make them of interest to the public. Following a brief historical perspective on our knowledge of owl monkey biology, I describe in detail, drawing from research with both captive and wild animals, those aspects that make owl monkeys unusual among primates and mammals. First, owl monkeys are the only anthropoids with nocturnal habits, and the study of their remarkable activity patterns has benefited enormously from an integrated approach that combined field research with research in semi-natural conditions and the laboratory. Second, up until recently, our understanding of social monogamy and the involvement of the ΗΗ in infant care, two defining characteristics of the genus, have been primarily informed by studies of captive individuals. In the future, a truly integrated laboratory-field approach that focuses on certain areas that cannot be examined in only one or the other setting (e.g. reproductive biology, communication, energetics) will offer unique opportunities for synergistic interactions between zoo and field research that will have both intellectual and practical benefits.

The evolution of pair‐living, sexual monogamy, and cooperative infant care: Insights from research on wild owl monkeys, titis, sakis, and tamarins

“…Opie et al () also classified the owl monkey species we study ( A. azarae ) as “seasonal breeders with time out,” and the remainder of the owl monkey taxa as “seasonal breeders without time out.” “Time out” in this context refers to times when an individual is not available in the mating pool. We agree with the classification of our taxon of study (Fernandez‐Duque, Rotundo, & Ramírez‐Llorens, ), but not with the classification of the other four Aotus taxa, for which there are extremely limited data from the wild (Fernandez‐Duque, , ; Fernandez‐Duque, Corley, & Spence‐Aizenberg, ). Most publications on those four taxa come only from studies of captive colonies of owl monkeys (Garcia de la Chica et al, in press).…”

Chemical composition of glandular secretions from a pair‐living monogamous primate: Sex, age, and gland differences in captive and wild owl monkeys (Aotus spp.)

“…The multi‐year monitoring of wild (Owl Monkey Project, Argentina) and captive (Owl Monkey Breeding and Research Resource, DuMond Conservancy) owl monkey populations allow us to complement the intensive sampling and experimental approaches possible in captivity with ecological studies of wild individuals to better understand the adaptive value of putative chemosignals. A combined field‐lab approach has already proved valuable in understanding food sharing (Wolovich, Feged, Evans, & Green, ; Wolovich & Perea‐Rodriguez, ), mortality trajectories (Larson, Colchero, Jones, Williams, & Fernandez‐Duque, ), and circadian biology (Fernandez‐Duque, ; Fernandez‐Duque, de la Iglesia, & Erkert, ). Similar patterns in these two populations would allow for more robust interpretations of the results than a study of only one species or environmental context.…”

Hormonal correlates of development and natal dispersal in wild female owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) of Argentina

“…This monitoring has allowed us to identify dates of births, deaths, and other demographic changes, such as dispersals, within a range of a few weeks (Huck and Fernandez-Duque, 2012). Reproduction is highly seasonal: almost all births occur between late September and December, and 80% occur in either October or November (Fernandez-Duque, 2012; Fernandez-Duque et al, 2002). …”