If they are of their own species

Mar 17, 2010 09:45 GMT  ·  By

In a new investigation of vervet monkeys, scientists have discovered that the animals appear to prefer the female teachers in their group, when it comes to selecting role models. In carefully-designed lab experiments, these monkeys were observed as learning a new trick only when it was first demonstrated by a female “teacher,” and not when males of the species did the same thing. Experts are now curious to learn whether this type of behavior comes from some sort of incipient culture or from experience. The vervet monkeys usually travel around in small groups, of 10 to 50 individuals.

As per ScienceNow, these groups include all ages and genders. Investigators determined that, in the wild, the animals traveled with adult males and females, children and infants alike, going about their daily business together. Whereas females were shown to remain faithful to the group throughout their lives, males oftentimes leave the pack when they are about 4 years old, and some animal behaviorists believe that this may be one of the main reasons why the males of the species are not trusted when it comes to education. The vervet monkey groups are dominated by an alpha male, but the females also have a leader.

As in most other species, males compete and fight each other for the dominant position. However, in the case of the status of females, this is passed down from generation to generation, as in from mother to its daughter. In a series of scientific studies conducted in South Africa, at the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Swiss experts from the University of Neuchatel had a chance to test out a new idea. Doctoral student Erica van de Waal proposed that these animals were capable of passing down some sort of cultural heritage from one generation to the next. The idea is very exciting, and so the group set out to test it. One of the primary things that stood out was the way groups of vervet monkeys settled their differences.

The methods differed by a wide margin from group to group. In some instances, individuals sought to blame a scapegoat for all the troubles, and turned their anger on that particular monkey. But in other groups, the situation was dramatically reversed. In order to avoid further conflict, the losing side of a battle would get consoled by the other members of the group, so as to ensure that the peace is maintained. In lab studies, the team was also able to determine that, in 80 percent of cases, the example of females was being followed by all the other members of the group, when learning a new trick. Details of the work appear in the March 17 online issue of the esteemed publication Proceedings of the Royal Society B.