Considering Social Play in Primates: A Case Study in Juvenile Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana)

Abstract

Social play in animals has long intrigued ethologists, and current research in this field, especially pertaining to primates, has revealed that the behavioral lives of juveniles in particular are rich and behaviorally and socially complex. It is widely acknowledged that play contributes to the biological, social, and cognitive growth of juveniles, but the impact of this growth on fitness, future adult social relationships, or general social group experiences remains unknown. Comparative social play research can enhance our understanding of how play influences these variables critical to juvenile development and fitness. Comparisons across taxa with varying social organizations, e.g., Macaca spp., can further this understanding. In this chapter, we introduce the 2017 social play network of Yulingkeng A1 infant and juvenile Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) and discuss how social play is organized in this species.