Langur monkeys mating or show of dominance_

  • 2 years ago
Gray langur groups are extremely variable in both their size and composition, especially between different habitats and between years. In general however, the social system can be both polygynous and multi-male/multi-female. But, there is evidence that multi-male groups are an atypical situation, and merely a transition period following a takeover during the mating season and such groups soon split into single-male and all-male groups. Further, multi-male groups usually turn into single-male troops around the mating season. Group sizes can range from 2 to 90 and sometimes more than a hundred animals, although such agglomerations are rare and usually groups are much smaller.

Because of the variability of the gray langur social systems, mating can be both polygynous and polygamous. In one-male groups, the resident male usually fathers almost all of the offspring in the group, while in multi-male groups the alpha-male sires the most, followed by other group males and even non-group males. Higher-raking females have significantly higher reproductive success than lower-ranking individuals.

Female gray langurs show no external signs of reproductive state, and will mate during all reproductive states including when pregnant. This is perhaps to confuse males about parenting and to prevent infanticide, which occurs often in the species. Nevertheless, field data indicates that males are still able to discern female reproductive condition through some unclear means. Induced by the stress of having a new male in the group, pregnant females will sometimes abort. As mentioned above, infanticide is common in gray langurs.

Source : http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/

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