Long-term study of the social dynamics of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas): group male supplanting and changes to the multi-male situation.

Abstract

Data on social changes in patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) groups were collected to clarify the general characteristics of male supplantation and to evaluate the overall role of supplanting in patas society. Seven patas groups were observed in Kala Maloue National Park, Northern Cameroon for 11 years. Analysis of this data revealed that social change, such as male supplanting, was restricted to the mating season. Male supplanting occurred in the course of outsider males seeking to gain access to estrous females within the heterosexual group and supplanting was inevitably followed by a multi-male situation arising in the group. Many cases of multi-male invasion were preceded by the supplanting of resident males and the multi-male situation arose due to a temporary absence of serious aggression towards invader males by the new resident males. Notably, an all-male group was found only once and it did not contribute to the supplanting of resident males in the one-male group.