Development of a congenitally malformed Japanese monkey in a free-ranging group during the first four years of life.

Abstract

A malformed male Japanese monkey completely lacking both hands was observed in a free-ranging situation to four years of age. He developed a locomotor pattern appropriate to his deformity, namely, bipedal walking on hind legs. He maintained a stronger bond with his mother than did normal same-aged male monkeys and retained the same high dominance ranking order as his mother. He did not show peripheralization as did normal juvenile monkeys. No social disadvantages based on his physical deficiencies were observed at least until the end of his fourth year of life.