Discrimination of mother by infant among Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Abstract

Experiments on five mother-infant pairs of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata)living together in a captive group were conducted during the first 12 weeks after birth in order to assess the time at which infants begin to discriminate their own mothers from other adult females. After removal from their social group, infants exposed to their mothers and three unfamiliar adult females at a distance of 150 cm failed to orient visually toward their mothers. However, when the infants were allowed to approach the four females, they responded preferentially to their mothers during the third month of life. We concluded that by 8–12 weeks of age, infant Japanese macaques are able to discriminate between their mothers and other adult females.