Preliminary observations on the birth and development of Propithecus verreauxi to the age of six months

Abstract

In this paper, preliminary observations are presented on the ontogency of one of the Malagasy prosimians, Propithecus verreauxi. Observations were carried out in the course of an eighteen-month study of the social organization and ecology of four, free-ranging groups. Parturition is described, together with data on the development of locomotor and feeding behavior, and on the changing nature of the infant's relationship with its mother and with other members of the group. The final section compares the results of this study with those of previous studies of P. verreauxi and other lemur species. Tentative conclusions are drawn concerning aspects of social ontogeny in P. verreauxi and areas for future research are suggested which would clarify some of the remaining problems. © 1976 Japan Monkey Centre.