Life History of Male Japanese Monkeys

Abstract

This chapter discusses the social structure of Japanese monkeys, renunciation of the natal troop, approach to and joining of the troop by Hanarezam, and longevity and mortality of male Japanese monkeys. The multimale and multifemale troop of Japanese monkeys at Takasakiyama is controlled by a group of leader males, while females and infants occupy the central part of the troop under the protection of leader males. Most male Japanese monkeys desert their natal troops and spend much of their long life as wanderers. Although, some male Japanese monkeys, which disappear, must die, comparisons with the survival curves of females and some individually known cases indicate that many others, which leave the troop survive. It is uncertain, whether many males died in or out of the troop, and the critical reason for the difference between the mortalities of the sexes is not known, it is likely that the hanarezaru are less able to find food and encounter many more dangers. The study presents that observing the life history of Japanese monkeys from the long-range viewpoint, the rank order, the social role, and social hierarchy regulate social friction among spontaneously coexisting animals.