Analysis of behavioral sequences in grooming interactions between adult females in the Arashiyama-E group of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata)

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the factors responsible for maintaining grooming interactions between adult female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). The subjects were 10 individuals of the Arashiyama-E group, aged 10-12 years. We observed each subject by focal animal sampling and recorded by whom and how the grooming interactions were initiated, maintained, and terminated. Most of the grooming interactions were initiated by an initial groomer without solicitation by the initial groomee and terminated without role reversal. However, when role reversals occurred, the duration of the grooming interactions correlated with the number of role reversals. The results suggest that repetitive role reversals between the groomer and groomee might play a role in maintaining grooming interactions and that kin relationship determines the type of behavior triggering the role reversals that occur during the interactions, i.e., “soliciting” or “giving.”View full abstract