Why do captive tufted capuchins (<i>Cebus apella</i>) urine wash?

Miller, Kimran E.; Laszlo, Katalin; Suomi, Stephen J.

doi:10.1002/ajp.20462

Cited by 10 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Interindividual variations in urine washing rates have been reported to be associated with dominance rank and sex, while reproductive status can affect intraindividual variations. Alpha males of Cebus capucinus and C. apella urine washed more frequently than other males and females (Campos et al 2007;Miller et al 2008). These results may be consistent with the hypothesis that urine washing plays a role in communication about sex or social rank.…”

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…However, no sex differences were observed in Saimiri oerstedi (Boinski 1992) and Saguinus mystax (Heymann 1995). Estrus decreased the rate of urine washing in female Cebus capucinus (Carnegie et al 2005), whereas the presence of estrous females increased the rate of male urine washing in C. apella (Miller et al 2008), suggesting a role in the communication of reproductive status. Campos et al (2007) provided the best test of the communicatory function-of social and territorial status-of urine washing.…”

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionsmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…In particular, our observations that estrus reduced female urine washing confirms a previous investigation in another capuchin species (Cebus capucinus, Carnegie et al 2005), whereas no previous study investigated age-related variations in urine washing. Previous studies did (Campos et al 2007;Miller et al 2008) or did not (Boinski 1992;Heymann 1995) observe sex or rank differences in urine washing behavior. Overall, available information on interindividual variations in rates of urine washing is rather inconsistent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…In addition to investigations of diurnal and seasonal variations, whose results are difficult to interpret unambiguously because of the covariation of disparate variables, researchers also explored direct relations between climatic variables and rates of urine washing. Studying captive Cebus apella, both Roeder and Anderson (1991) and Carosi and Rosofsky (1999) reported that rates of urine washing increased under conditions of higher ambient temperature, consistent with a thermoregulatory function, whereas Miller et al (2008) observed no such relation. Schwartz and Rosenblum (1985) provided experimental evidence that higher temperatures caused an increase in the rate of urine washing in Saimiri sciureus.…”

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Interestingly, the temporal association of urine washing with received aggression (Miller et al 2008) suggests that it could also represent a displacement activity (Maestripieri et al 1992).…”

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Factors Affecting Urine Washing Behavior in Tufted Capuchins (Cebus apella)

2011

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Urine washing is a common behavior in strepsirrhine and platyrrhine primates, but its function is still poorly understood. We investigated the factors influencing urine washing behavior in 2 captive groups of tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). Urine washing was affected by group membership (subjects in the 2 groups urine washed at different rates) and was negatively related to age, but was not influenced by sex or dominance rank. Females urine washed less when in estrus, and the presence of an estrous female did not affect male urine washing behavior. We observed independent effects of diurnal and climatic variables on urine washing. Tufted capuchins urine washed more at midday and under conditions of higher temperatures and lower relative humidity. Both of the latter effects were evident only at the lowest temperatures (5-20°C). Our results indicate that urine washing is sensitive to multiple influences, and that hypothetical communicative or thermoregulatory functions do not fully account for its occurrence.

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Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionssupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionsmentioning

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: ) Researchers Have Proposed Several Hypothetical Functionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Factors Affecting Urine Washing Behavior in Tufted Capuchins (Cebus apella)

2011

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Capuchin monkeys

Anderson,

Visalberghi,

Manciocco

2024

The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals

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The effects of fur rubbing on the social behavior of tufted capuchin monkeys

Paukner¹,

Suomi²

2008

American J Primatol

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Fur rubbing has often been attributed a social as well as a medicinal function in capuchin monkeys, yet to date there have been no studies investigating the effects of fur rubbing on subsequent group dynamics. Here we report for the first time how social group cohesion is affected by fur rubbing in tufted capuchin monkeys. Fifteen captive capuchins were each observed 6 times for 45 minutes, three times following the provision of materials typically used for fur rubbing (onion) and three times following control food items (apple). When compared to the apple condition, monkeys significantly increased proximity to one another in the first 15 minutes of the onion condition, which is when most fur rubbing took place. Moreover, monkeys were more likely to spend time in groups when fur rubbing but less likely to spend time in groups when manipulating the onion in other ways. In subsequent periods monkeys were less likely to be in proximity to one another in the onion condition compared to the apple condition. Aggression between group members was elevated whereas affiliation was decreased throughout the onion condition. In short, capuchins spent more time further apart and engaged in more aggressive acts and shorter affiliative acts following fur rubbing bouts. It is possible that these differences in behavior could be due to differences in how the monkeys competed for and interacted with the items presented in each condition rather than due to fur rubbing as such. Alternatively, fur rubbing with pungent materials might interfere with olfactory cues used to regulate social interactions within a group and thereby cause increased levels of aggression.

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Why do captive tufted capuchins (Cebus apella) urine wash?

Cited by 10 publications

References 19 publications

Factors Affecting Urine Washing Behavior in Tufted Capuchins (Cebus apella)

Factors Affecting Urine Washing Behavior in Tufted Capuchins (Cebus apella)

Capuchin monkeys

The effects of fur rubbing on the social behavior of tufted capuchin monkeys

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