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A case of adoption in a wild group of black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons)

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Abstract

We observed a case of infant adoption in an unprovisioned group of wild black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons). During our long-term field study we noticed that an infant had moved from one of our study groups (“Desbotado”) to another (“Rio”). Observations of the adoptive group confirm that it was being cared for by the adult male, and initially the group’s adult female was nursing the infant alongside her biological infant. Interestingly, the native and adoptive groups have frequent inter-group interactions, but at no point have we observed the native group trying to retrieve its infant. As of April 2007 the infant has been living in its adoptive group for 19 months. These data document the first case of adoption in this genus; they suggest that infant recognition is poorly developed in this species and that under certain circumstances wild groups of C. nigrifrons can successfully rear twins. In our study population reproductive females give birth to one infant every year; the only case when this has not happened is with the group that adopted the infant, suggesting that adoption may generate a reproductive cost.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Padres Célio, Wilson and Sebastian for allowing us to work in their reserve and to Consuelo and Aline for their support. This study was generously funded by FAPEMIG and PUC Minas. Furthermore, we would like to thank all past members of this long-term project: Guedes D., Ferreira, S. Q., Nahur A., Neves P.H., Sena M., Assunção M., Franco E. and Soares, G. We can confirm that all of the research reported in this article was conducted in compliance with all relevant Brazilian laws.

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  1. Conservation, Ecology and Animal Behaviour Group, Prédio 41, Mestrado em Zoologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Av. Dom José Gaspar, 500 Coração Eucarístico, 30535-610, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Cristiane Cäsar & Robert John Young

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  1. Cristiane Cäsar
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  2. Robert John Young
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Correspondence to Robert John Young.

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Cäsar, C., Young, R.J. A case of adoption in a wild group of black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons). Primates 49, 146–148 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-007-0066-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-007-0066-x

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