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Predation, Communication, and Cognition in Lemurs

  • Marina Scheumann
  • Andriatahiana Rabesandratana
  • Elke Zimmermann
Chapter
Part of the Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects book series (DIPR)

Abstract

Predation represents an important selective force shaping the evolution of primate behavior. Primates confronted with predators have evolved various strategies to minimize the probability of being eaten. Predation risk and hunting styles of predators should have selected for communicative and cognitive abilities linked to socioecology and life history. As studies on several socially cohesive mammals indicate, the study of anti-predator behavior represents an important tool for gaining insight into cognition, e.g., to understand how animals classify objects and events in the world around them (e.g., marmots: Blumstein, 1999; vervet monkeys: Seyfarth et al., 1980; Diana monkeys: Zuberbühler, 2000; suricates: Manser et al., 2002).

Keywords

Predation Risk Alarm Call Mouse Lemur Playback Experiment Gray Mouse Lemur 
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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Marina Scheumann
    • 1
  • Andriatahiana Rabesandratana
    • 2
  • Elke Zimmermann
    • 1
  1. 1.Institut für Zoologie TierärztlicheHochschule HannoverHannoverGermany
  2. 2.Département de Biologie AnimaleUniversité d’AntananarivoAntananarivo 101Madagascar

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