Do wild titi monkeys show empathy?

Clyvia, A; Kaizer, M; Vale, R; Young, RJ; Casar, C

Abstract

We observed a putative case of empathy among wild black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons)
from two different groups (D and R). In over 10 years of behavioural observations of five habituated
groups of this species, only low levels of inter-group tolerance have been observed. However, on one day, we
encountered the adult male from group D limping (poor hind limb motor coordination) as he travelled alone
along the ground. Interestingly, we observed that members of group R did not express any agonistic behaviour
towards this neighbouring male and apparently allowed this disabled individual to follow them in the forest for
over 5 h. They stayed low in the forest (<2m above the ground) and <10m horizontally from the individual,
and remained in visual contact with him. At the end of the day, this male from group D slept in the sleeping site of
group R and was groomed by the adult female of group R. Such tolerance between members of different groups
has never been previously observed in this species. Furthermore, group R exposed themselves to increased predation
risk by staying close to the ground for protracted periods. The behaviour of group R could be interpreted
by as a putative case of empathic responding in this species.

Citation

Clyvia, A., Kaizer, M., Vale, R., Young, R., & Casar, C. (2014). Do wild titi monkeys show empathy?. Primate Biology, 1, 23-28. https://doi.org/10.5194/pb-1-23-2014

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 7, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 28, 2014
• Publication Date: Oct 28, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Primate Biology
• Print ISSN: 2363-4707
• Electronic ISSN: 2363-4715
• Publisher: Copernicus Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Pages: 23-28
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/pb-1-23-2014
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/pb-1-23-2014
• Related Public URLs: http://primate-biology.net/
• Additional Information: Funders : CAPES;CNPq;FAPEMIG