Primate Behavior: The Japanese Macaque

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The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) is a unique species of primate that has a distinct red appearance and an infamous classist society. The behavior of macaques can be partitioned into four categories: mating, parenting, communication, and culture.
The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) is native to Japan, and is the most northerly occurring non-human primate in the animal kingdom (Mobilereference, 2008). They constitute a genus of terrestrial Old World monkeys from the subfamily of Cercopithecinae. Macaques are some of the most well studied primate species ever observed (Gron, 2007). In general, macaques are strong-limbed, medium-sized monkeys with stout bodies, thick dense fur, and pinkish faces (Norwak, 1999). Two species of Japanese …show more content…

The face and genitalia redden and the females’ turn scarlet (Thomsen, 1997). Macaques copulate both on the ground and in the trees (Yotsumoto, 1976), and roughly one in three copulations leads to ejaculation (MobileReference, 2009). Macaques signal when they are ready to mate by looking backward over a shoulder, staying still, or walking backwards towards their potential partner. Japanese female macaques make cooing, squawking, squeaking, or produce an atonal "cackle" noise during copulation (Hanby JP, 1974). Males have no mating vocalizations. The higher the status of the male macaque, the more frequent the female reaches orgasm in copulations. This research is compatible with the female choice hypothesis (Troisi, …show more content…

After this time, the mother carries her infant on her back, as well. Infants continue to be carried past a year. A mother macaque tends to avoid other troop members and until the infant is grown. Then she will reintroduce herself slowly (Hiraiwa, 1981).
Occasionally, infant macaques are taken care of by other individuals in a parent-like behavior, known as alloparenting. This is done by females who do not have children of their own. Depending on the group, older males can take care of the infant similar to a female would (Hiraiwa, 1981).
Communication between macaques occurs by emitting coos. Macaques respond to coos with coos of their own. They are used frequently in different contexts, from grooming to mating. Macaques have alarm calls for alerting others of danger. They have aggressive calls, such as threats during altercations or aggressive encounters. Macaques form alliances amongst themselves. Supporters of the parties involved will utter threat calls in an antagonistic fashion. By doing this, the supported later supports the caller if needed (Machida, 1990). They essentially act as cheerleaders and later return the favor for backing them up during their time of need. The macaque also has a girney call in which they use a variant as an appeasement in aggressive encounters or during grooming (Blount,

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