Death Avoidance Behavior of Accidentally Injured Cub in Platyrrhini: An Opportunistic Observation Record

Abstract

Introduction: Infraorder Platyrrhini is composed of species with complex social structures, but information about their interaction with death is scarce in the literature, as already registered for old world monkeys. This work concern of death avoidance behavior recorded in a group of Callithrix penicillata (E. Geoffroy, 1812) (Primates, Callitrichidae). Material and Methods: This is a study made it through opportunistic observation of an interaction between a mother and her cub, accidentally injured and on the deathbed. The detailed description of the phenomenon occurred through all occurrence sampling, and was counted on the testimony of local residents. For better data exposure, an etogram was constructed, containing all the observed behaviors, in sequence, from the beginning to the end of the sampling. Results: In all, 10 individuals participated in the observations, and 16 behavioral acts were observed during 6 days of observation of the interaction mother-child injured-other individuals. The behaviors indicated a high degree of stress on the part of all involved, as well as the mother's attempt to withdraw her cub from the area in which was. The mother also tried to bring it to your back. There were other individuals in the group, possibly to assist in caring for the cub. 1 Conclusion: This work is unpublished for the specie in question and reaffirms its social character. The observations open spaces for further investigation into similar behaviors in human and non-human primates as well as the phylogenetic relationship between them.