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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Do alpha male hanuman langurs defend the infant/ juvenile of their troops?
Goutam Sharma
Year : 2019 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 231-236
Received on: 10/04/2019
Revised on: 10/25/2019
Accepted on: 10/27/2019
Published on: 10/31/2019
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Goutam Sharma ( 2019).
Do alpha male hanuman langurs defend the infant/ juvenile of their troops?
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 4( 5), 231-236.
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Abstract
A study on a resident male and infant relationship in a bisexual troop of Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) around Jodhpur, Western Rajasthan, is conducted during 2017-18. The study troop Kaga North (B-11) had three males, including resident males. There were 18 adult females, 22 infants, and juveniles in this troop. Many of the time, the alpha (resident) male observed more aggressive towards other adult males available in the troop, but he never harms to male juveniles and infants. Although there were sub-adult males also in the troop, resident never attacked them. On the other hand, a beta male was attacked by a resident in several cases. Sometimes the resident showed his neutral behavior towards infants. But other times, it was observed when the resident showed positive responses towards infants and juveniles. Other males also showed protective behavior towards them. No incident of infanticide has found, and no resident male change took place during the study period. The study supported the prediction derived from the selection hypothesis, i.e., the new dominating male may allow the male juvenile and sub-adult males to stay in the same uni-male bisexual troop leading to the multi-male situation. The resident male is quite likely to face much competition over resources, particularly receptive females. Still, he may get additional advantage from those fellow and or rival males in cooperative defense against conspecifics and predators, thereby increasing reproductive success. The study further supports that the resident shows his positive response for infants and also for sub-adult males while feeding, playing, and resting.
Keywords
Hanuman langurs, Infant, Troop, Defend, Kin relation.
