Abstract
The prosimian group encompasses a wide range of primitive primate species that are distinct from the simian group of monkeys, apes, and humans. There are more than 40 species of prosimians in seven families (Kavanagh, 1983; Napier and Napier, 1985). Activity cycles of these species can be nocturnal, diurnal, or cathemeral (Tattersall, 1982, 1988; Overdorff and Rasmussen, 1995). Prosimians also show variety in their patterns of maternal care. Depending on the species, dams may leave infants in a nest, “park” their offspring in foliage and return to nurse or groom them, or carry their infants on their bodies (Ross, 2001). The diurnal lemurs (Lemuriformes) tend to live in larger social groups and are generally more gregarious than the nocturnal lorisids and cheirogaleids (Lorisiformes; Alterman et al., 1995; but see Sterling and Richard, 1995).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alterman, L., Doyle, G., and Izard, M.K. (eds.) (1995). Creatures of the Dark: The Nocturnal Prosimians. Plenum Press, New York.
Bearder, S.K. (1987). Lorises, bushbabies, and tarsiers: Diverse societies in solitary foragers. In: Smuts, B.B., Cheney, D.L., Seyfarth, R.M., Wranghan, R.W., and Struhsaker, T.T. (eds.), Primate Societies. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, pp. 11–24.
Doyle, G.A. (1979). Development of behaviour in prosimians with special reference to the lesser bushbaby, Galago senegalensis moholi. In: Doyle, G.A. and Martin, R.D. (eds.), The Study of Prosimian Behavior. Academic Press, New York, pp. 158–206.
Doyle, G.A., Anderson, A., and Bearder, S.K. (1969). Maternal behavior in the lesser bushbaby (Galago senegalensis moholi) under semi-natural conditions. Folia Primatol. 11:215–238.
Eaton, G.G., Slob, A.K., and Resko, J.A. (1973). Cycles of mating behavior, oestrogen and progesterone in the thick-tailed bushbaby Galago crassicaudatus under laboratory conditions. Anim. Behav. 21:309–315.
Ehrlich, A., and MacBride, L. (1989). Mother-infant interactions in captive slow lorieses (Nycticebus coucang). Am. J. Primatol. 19:217–228.
Ehrlich, A., and MacBride, L. (1990). Mother-infant interactions in captive thick-tailed galagos (Galago garnettii). J. Mammal. 71:198–204.
Feistner, A.T.C., and Ashborne, C.J. (1994). Infant development in a captivebred aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) over the first year of life. Folia Primatol. 62:74–92.
Foerg, R. (1982). Reproduction in Cheirogaleus medius. Folia Primatol. 38:49–62.
Haring, D.M., and Wright, P.C. (1989). Hand-raising a Phillipine tarsier, Tarsius syrichta. Zoo Biol. 8:265–274.
Izard, M.K. (1989). Duke University Primate Center. J. Med. Primatol. 18:137–147.
Jolly, A. (1996). Lemur Behavior. Chicago University Press, Chicago, IL.
Kappeler, P.M. (1998). Nests, tree holes, and the evolution of primate life histories. Am. J. Primatol. 46:7–33.
Kavanagh, M. (1983). A Complete Guide to Monkeys, Apes and Other Primates. Viking Press, New York.
Klopfer, P.H., and Boskoff, K.L. (1979). Maternal behavior in prosimians. In: Doyle, G.A., and Martin, R.D. (eds.), The Study of Prosimian Behavior. Academic Press, New York, pp. 123–156.
Klopfer, P.H., and Dugard, J. (1976). Patterns of maternal care in lemurs. III. Lemur variegates. Z. Tierpsychol. 27:984–996.
Martin, R.D. (1972). A preliminary study of the lesser mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus J.F. Miller, 1777). Z. Tierpsychol. Suppl. 9:43–89.
Napier, J.R., and Napier, P.H. (1985). The Natural History of the Primates. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Natrella, M.G. (1963). Experimental Statistics. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Niemitz, C. (1979). Outline of the behavior of Tarsius bancanus. In: Doyle, G.A., and Martin, R.D. (eds.), The Study of Prosimian Behavior. Academic Press, New York, pp. 631–660.
Overdorff, D.J., and Rasmussen, M.A. (1995). Determinants of nighttime activity of “diurnal” lemurid primates. In: Alterman, L., Doyle, G., and Izard, M.K. (eds.), Creatures of the Dark: The Nocturnal Prosimians. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 61–74.
Pages, E. (1980). Ethoecology of Microcebus coquereli during the dry season. In: Charles-Dominique, P., Cooper, H.M., Hladik, A., Hladik, C.M., Pages, E., Pariente, G.F., Petter-Rousseaux, A., and Schilling, A. (eds.), Nocturnal Malagasy Primates: Ecology, Physiology, and Behavior. Academic Press, New York, pp. 97–116.
Pereira, M.E., Klepper, A., and Simons, E.L. (1988). Tactics of care for young infants by forest-living ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata): Ground nests, parking, and biparental guarding. Am. J. Primatol. 13:129–144.
Petter-Rousseaux, A. (1980). Seasonal activity rhythms, reproduction, and body weight vvariations in five sympatric prosimians, in simulated light conditions. In: Charles-Dominique, P., Cooper, H.M., Hladik, A., Hladik, C.M., Page, E., Pariente, G.F. Petter-Rousseaux, A., and Schilling, A. (eds.), Nocturnal Malagasy Primates: Ecology, Physiology, and Behavior. Academic Press, New York, pp. 137–152.
Rosenblum, L. (1972). Observation of maternal behaviour of two captive bushbabies (Galago crassicaudatus argentatus). Anim. Behav. 20:677–688.
Ross, C. (2001). Park or ride? Evolution of infant carrying in primates. Int. J. Primatol. 22:749–771.
Snedecor, G.W., and Cochran, W.G. (1967). Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
Sterling, E.J., and Richard, A. (1995). Social organization in the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) and the perceived distinctiveness of nocturnal primates. In: Alterman, L., Doyle, G., and Izard, M.K. (eds.), Creatures of the Dark: The Nocturnal Prosimians Plenum Press, New York, pp. 439–451.
Tattersall, I. (1982). The Primates of Madagascar. Columbia University Press, New York.
Tattersall, I. (1988). Cathemeral activity in primates: A definition. Folia Primatol. 49:200–202.
Taylor, T.D., and Feistner, A.T.C. (1996). Infant rearing in captive Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis: Singleton versus twins. Folia Primatol. 67:44–51.
Tilden, C.D., and Oftedal, O.T. (1997). Milk composition reflects pattern of maternal care in prosimian primates. Am. J. Primatol. 41:195–211.
Valerio, D.A., Johnson, P.T., and Thompson, G.E. (1972). Breeding the greater bushbaby in a laboratory environment. Lab. Anim. Sci. 22:203–206.
Welker, C., and Schaeffer-Witt, C. 1988. Preliminary observations on behavioural differences among thick-tailed bushbabies. Int. J. Primatol. 9:507–518.
Winn, R.M. (1994). Development of behaviour in a young aye-aye in captivity. Folia Primatol. 62:93–107.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Izard, M.K. (2006). Nursery-Reared Prosimian Primates. In: Sackett, G.P., Ruppentahal, G.C., Elias, K. (eds) Nursery Rearing of Nonhuman Primates in the 21st Century. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-25640-5_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-25640-5_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-25632-0
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-25640-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)