Locomotor behavior of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago

Abstract

The locomotor behaviors of Cayo Santiago rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were studied in order to determine qualitatively some of the similarities and differences in movement patterns between free-ranging and captive primates. Super-8mm cinefilms of locomotor sequences by all age groups were analyzed frame-by-frame. Cayo Santiago macaques use locomotor behaviors on the ground, large-diametered branches, and vines that correspond to captive monkey locomotion on comparable supports (floors, suspended poles, ropes). Cayo Santiago macaques differ from captive monkeys, however, in that most infants begin to walk using the diagonal-sequence pattern, swimming is common, and infants and juveniles practice a variety of locomotor behaviors among the small-diametered tree branches. Therefore, the Cayo Santiago facility provides 1) insights into the full repertoire of infant and juvenile locomotor behaviors that are essential for studies of motor development and its neural control, and 2) models for designing small-branch supports for captive colonies.