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Matrilineal distribution of louse egg‐handling techniques during grooming in free‐ranging Japanese macaques
Author(s) -
Tanaka Ichirou
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330980208
Subject(s) - social grooming , biology , dominance hierarchy , louse , cultural transmission in animals , zoology , social hierarchy , dominance (genetics) , homogeneous , national park , demography , evolutionary biology , ecology , social psychology , psychology , aggression , mathematics , sociology , biochemistry , combinatorics , gene
Grooming behavior of which the primary function appears to be the removal of lice on others (Tanaka and Takefushi [1993] Anthropological Science 101: 187–193) was studied in Japanese macaques at Jigokudani Monkey Park, Japan, June 1990–July 1993. Several louse egg‐handling techniques used during grooming were identified (with differences in efficiency) in a freeranging group. In the low‐ranking maternal lineages, the distribution of these techniques is quite homogeneous, suggesting social transmission with goal emulation (one form of social learning) based on maternal kin. However, there is considerable variation in the high‐ranking matriline. The social system of dominance—the tendency of subordinates to groom more often than to be groomed—may result in oblique transmission of more effective techniques from low‐ranking monkeys to some offspring of high‐ranking females. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.