SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF SQUIRREL MONKEYS AND REACTTION TO STRANGERS

Two groups of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciurea) containing a male and four females each were studied before, during and after the temporary introduction of strange females. Social relations were generally characterized by minimal individual distance, an almost complete lack of social grooming and selective tail placements during huddling. Contrary to most experience with old-world species, introduction of the stranger produced no destructive aggressive encounters; social exploration, genital display and brief manual attacks directed at the stranger were relatively high initially but rapidly dissipated. Characteristic behaviours of group members including their resting postures and their frequency of huddling was disrupted immediately after introduction but rapidly returned to normal by the third day. Strangers then huddled as often as the original group members. © 1968.