Adolescent growth and development in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata): Punctuated adolescent growth spurt by season

Abstract

Adolescent growth of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) was studied. Their growth is composed both of a seasonal cycle of acceleration and deceleration and of linear increases. There is a major growth spurt in linear dimension and body weight at the beginning of the breeding season of the third and fourth year of life in females and males respectively, when they mature reproductively. They show additional accelerated growth in the following year(s). These growth spurts, in total, are considered to correspond with the adolescent growth spurt in humans. Adolescent growth of Japanese macaques is characterized by a punctuation by slower growth and a later start, which is considered to be the product of adaptation to a strongly seasonal environment.