Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)
Abstract Gestures play a central role in the communication systems of several animal families, including primates. In this study, we provide a first assessment of the gestural systems of a Platyrrhine species, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). We observed a wild group of 52 spider monkey...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Animal Cognition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01854-w |
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| author | Felipe Villa-Larenas Miquel Llorente Katja Liebal Federica Amici |
| author_facet | Felipe Villa-Larenas Miquel Llorente Katja Liebal Federica Amici |
| author_sort | Felipe Villa-Larenas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gestures play a central role in the communication systems of several animal families, including primates. In this study, we provide a first assessment of the gestural systems of a Platyrrhine species, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). We observed a wild group of 52 spider monkeys and assessed the distribution of visual and tactile gestures in the group, the size of individual repertoires and the intentionality and effectiveness of individuals’ gestural production. Our results showed that younger spider monkeys were more likely than older ones to use tactile gestures. In contrast, we found no inter-individual differences in the probability of producing visual gestures. Repertoire size did not vary with age, but the probability of accounting for recipients’ attentional state was higher for older monkeys than for younger ones, especially for gestures in the visual modality. Using vocalizations right before the gesture increased the probability of gesturing towards attentive recipients and of receiving a response, although age had no effect on the probability of gestures being responded. Overall, our study provides first evidence of gestural production in a Platyrrhine species, and confirms this taxon as a valid candidate for research on animal communication. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3674d3c5ba143939ecbb244e1ec5784 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1435-9456 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3674d3c5ba143939ecbb244e1ec57842025-01-26T12:44:38ZengSpringerAnimal Cognition1435-94562024-03-0127111710.1007/s10071-024-01854-wGestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)Felipe Villa-Larenas0Miquel Llorente1Katja Liebal2Federica Amici3Fundació UdG: Innovació I Formació, Universitat de GironaFundació UdG: Innovació I Formació, Universitat de GironaHuman Biology and Primate Cognition, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Leipzig UniversityHuman Biology and Primate Cognition, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Leipzig UniversityAbstract Gestures play a central role in the communication systems of several animal families, including primates. In this study, we provide a first assessment of the gestural systems of a Platyrrhine species, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). We observed a wild group of 52 spider monkeys and assessed the distribution of visual and tactile gestures in the group, the size of individual repertoires and the intentionality and effectiveness of individuals’ gestural production. Our results showed that younger spider monkeys were more likely than older ones to use tactile gestures. In contrast, we found no inter-individual differences in the probability of producing visual gestures. Repertoire size did not vary with age, but the probability of accounting for recipients’ attentional state was higher for older monkeys than for younger ones, especially for gestures in the visual modality. Using vocalizations right before the gesture increased the probability of gesturing towards attentive recipients and of receiving a response, although age had no effect on the probability of gestures being responded. Overall, our study provides first evidence of gestural production in a Platyrrhine species, and confirms this taxon as a valid candidate for research on animal communication.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01854-wVisual and tactile gesturesCommunicationRepertoire sizeIntentionalityPlatyrrhines |
| spellingShingle | Felipe Villa-Larenas Miquel Llorente Katja Liebal Federica Amici Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Animal Cognition Visual and tactile gestures Communication Repertoire size Intentionality Platyrrhines |
| title | Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) |
| title_full | Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) |
| title_fullStr | Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) |
| title_short | Gestural communication in wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) |
| title_sort | gestural communication in wild spider monkeys ateles geoffroyi |
| topic | Visual and tactile gestures Communication Repertoire size Intentionality Platyrrhines |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01854-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT felipevillalarenas gesturalcommunicationinwildspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi AT miquelllorente gesturalcommunicationinwildspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi AT katjaliebal gesturalcommunicationinwildspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi AT federicaamici gesturalcommunicationinwildspidermonkeysatelesgeoffroyi |