Population Structure of Aotus nancymai (Cebidae: Primates) in Peruvian Amazon Lowland Forest
American Journal of Primatology 11:1 7 (1986)
ROLANDO AQUINO AND FILOMENO ENCARNAC16N IVITA, Iquitos, Perú
Wild groups of Aotus nancymai were trapped at three sites in the Peruvian Amazon lowland forest in order to study their social structure. Data on population density, group size, sex and age composition, social organization, and population structure were analyzed and are presented here.
Key words: owl monkey, field studies, social organization, group size, age categories
Received April 18, 1985; revision accepted February 15, 1986. Address reprint requests to Rolando Aquino or Filomeno Encarnación, IVITA, P.O. Box 575, Iquitos, Peru. © 1986 Alan R.
Between April and May 1981, the authors trapped a total of 37 groups of Aotus nancymai monkeys [Hershkovitz, 1983] which were used for breeding stock at the Centro de Reproducción y Conservación de Primates NoHumanos (CRCP) of the Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura (IVITA), located at Iquitos, Perú. The fieldwork was carried out in the forest near the Caserío Nuevo Valentín, Caserío Huaisi, and Caserío Punga on the banks of the Rio Tahuayo between 55 and 62 km south of Iquitos, Department of Loreto.
In addition to the trapping, observations were made on the social structure of this species in the forest near Huaisi as well as at the two other sites. Weight, total length, dentition, gland size, and pigmentation were recorded for each trapped specimen. Data were also gathered on group size and composition and on the social structure of the natural populations. An analysis of population structure is presented here, based on data from 42 observed groups of which 37 groups were partially or completely trapped for a total of 100 individuals.
