Repository logo
 

Adult male coatis play with a band of juveniles.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Logan, CJ 
Longino, JT 

Abstract

This study examined the play behaviour in one group of coatis (Nasua narica) at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. We incidentally found adult males playing with juvenile coatis, and conducted post-hoc analyses to investigate this interaction. Coati groups consist of adult females and juveniles of both sexes until male juveniles reach two years of age and leave the band to become solitary. Adult males only tolerate juveniles for a brief period during breeding season when the males court females to mate. Outside of the breeding season, adult males are known to prey on juveniles. In this study, when adult males were present with the band, play occurred more than was expected by chance, and adult males engaged in many of these play bouts. Because the mechanisms driving infanticidal behaviour are not well understood, and adult male coatis show a range of behaviours from infanticide to highly affiliative interactions with juveniles, using coatis as a model system may elucidate mechanisms underlying infanticide.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Behavior, Animal, Costa Rica, Female, Male, Play and Playthings, Procyonidae

Journal Title

Braz J Biol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1519-6984
1678-4375

Volume Title

73

Publisher

FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Sponsorship
This research was partially supported by The Evergreen State College Foundation Activity Grant and The Explorers Club Youth Activity Grant.