Species-Typical Patterns of Infant Contact, Sleeping Site Use and Social Cohesion among Nocturnal Primates in Africa

Abstract

This paper provides a checklist and summary of what is currently known of the variation in infant contact, sleeping site preference and aspects of social cohesion in the nocturnal primates of Africa. Genera and species are compared, based on previously unpublished field observations and a review of the literature. There is a clear pattern of similarity between the species within each genus and distinct differences between genera. Species in the same genus tend to be ecologically equivalent and replace each other allopatrically, whereas species in different genera are more likely to be sympatric, with up to 6 species living together. Maximum sympatry within genera is found in Otolemur and Galagoİdes, where species are ecologically divergent. This may reflect an ancient origin of species within these genera or suggest that further taxonomic revision is required at the generic level. Some data are recorded for the first time for species that have only recently been separated (cryptic species), but some taxa remain very poorly known. It is concluded that field studies are still at an elementary stage and further research with radio tracking is urgently needed in the face of rapidly declining habitats.

Observations of Mating, Birthing and Parental Behaviour in Three Subspecies of Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus and Loris lydekkerianus ) in India and Sri Lanka

“…This is in contrast to other lorisines, which sleep alone or in mother-infant pairs (e.g. Perodicticus potto and Nycticebus coucang) [Wiens, 2002;Bearder et al, 2003;Pimley, 2003]. Captive male L. l. nordicus maintained in stable family groups have also expressed interest in newborns, and males and older offspring sometimes carry them.…”

Living together in the night: abundance and habitat use of sympatric and allopatric populations of slow lorises and tarsiers

“…The potto Perodicticus potto edwardsi, a quadrupedal primate, spent most of its time in the upper canopy (20 to 40 m), but was spotted as low as 5 m, and was found on large branches and lianas (Charles-Dominique 1977). Other researchers have had similar results, indicating that height preference can be an outcome of locomotion or ecological needs (Harcourt & Nash 1986, Fleagle 1999, Heymann & Buchanan-Smith 2000, Pimley 2002, Bearder et al 2003.…”

Predation by Mammalian Carnivores on Nocturnal Primates: Is the Lack of Evidence Support for the Effectiveness of Nocturnality as an Antipredator Strategy?

“…Group vigilance may be important by day [Shultz et al, 2004;Shultz and Finlayson, 2010], and by night, for example, tarsiers engage in alarm calling and mobbing in response to raptors and civets [Gursky, 2007]. As Bearder et al [2003] observed, several small, nocturnal primates adopt a lifestyle of solitary living and group sleeping (e.g. G. demidovii and G. moholi ) presumably being difficult to detect when foraging and moving singly at night, but benefitting from sociality, perhaps including a reduced risk of predation, when sleeping in communal nests during daylight.…”

“…2 kg), are generally solitary foragers [Bearder, 1987], and the arboreality characteristic of all nocturnal primates may also result in the avoidance of predators that hunt on the ground. Small size enables nocturnal primates not only to be cryptic by night, but to hide by day, whether alone or in company [Bearder et al, 2003]. By night, some species are agile (nocturnal lemurs, galagos and tarsiers) and can make rapid escape, whereas sluggish ones (lorises and pottos) may supplement crypsis with specialised defence (e.g.…”