Inter-species differences in macaques: Why are the social relationships in Assamese and rhesus macaques different?

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07539
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Physical anthropology
• Research Institution: Chukyo University
• Principal Investigator: OGAWA Hideshi 中京大学, 国際教養学部, 教授 (80293976)
• Research Collaborator: Chalise Mukesh K. ; Khatiwada Sunil ; Koirala Sabina ; Paudel Pavan K. ; Upadhayay Pooja
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: マカク属 / アッサムモンキー / アカゲザル / 種間差 / 社会関係 / 採食戦略 / 捕食回避戦略

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We observed Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) and rhesus macaques (M. mulatta) at Shivapuri NagarjunNational Park and Balaju Garden in Nepal from April 2017 to March 2018. Focal animal sampling showed that Assamese macaques more frequently interacted with non-related individuals and had more tolerant dominance relationships than rhesus macaques. Scanning sampling showed that Assamese macaques were more arboreal, had a smaller home range, and had fewer feeding items than rhesus macaques. Their feeding and anti-predation strategies may affect the differences in social relationships between Assamese and rhesus macaques.

Free Research Field

霊長類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

霊長類オナガザル科のマカク属の2種アッサムモンキー(Macaca assamensis)とアカゲザル(M. mulatta)は，異なる捕食回避戦略と採食戦略を採り，それらが両種の社会関係の相違に影響していたと考えられた。本研究の結果からは，動物集団において社会関係の変異が如何に形成されるのか，人間社会においてどうすれば他人に対する寛容さが失われずに済むのかのヒントが得られるだろう。