Behavior and ecology of macaca fascicularis in Mauritius: A preliminary study

Abstract

Crab-eating macaques on the island of Mauritius were studied for 125 hr during June-July 1977. Occupying a degraded savanna habitat, the macaques lived in large multi-male groups which subdivided into smaller units for foraging. The daytime activity level was high, with feeding the most common activity; the macaques were eclectic feeders but showed high short-term selectivity. A few plant species accounted for the bulk of the diet, of which fruit was the major component. During the study, the group under observation ranged within an area of 42 ha, and travel was exclusively on the ground. As in other species of macaques, mutual grooming accounted for the largest part of social activity; it occurred with twice the frequency of autogrooming. © 1981 Japan Monkey Centre.