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Food‐neophobia in semi‐free ranging rhesus macaques: Effects of food limitation and food source
Author(s) -
Johnson Elizabeth
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2345(200001)50:1<25::aid-ajp3>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - neophobia , provisioning , trait , habitat , biology , zoology , ecology , computer science , telecommunications , programming language
This study characterizes food neophobia in semi‐free ranging rhesus macaques. In experiment one, monkeys received novel and familiar foods during periods of normal provisioning and when provisioning was suspended. The monkeys did discriminate between novel and familiar foods and continued to exhibit neophobia when provisioning was suspended. In experiment two, food was either tossed to subjects or placed in the habitat so that monkeys discovered food without the observer in close proximity. Rhesus macaques were more likely to eat a novel food that was hand‐tossed to them compared to food they discovered in their habitat. This study suggests that food neophobia is a robust trait in rhesus macaques and that a history of provisioning may affect the expression of the trait. Am. J. Primatol. 50:25–35, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.