PERCEPTUAL ASPECTS OF LEOPARD RECOGNITION BY WILD BONNET MACAQUES (MACACA RADIATA)

Abstract

Summary This study examined the perceptual features of leopards (Panthera pardus) used as recognition cues by bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) at three sites in southern India. Two of these sites were protected deciduous forest areas, the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. The third study site was a predator-rare urban setting, Bangalore city. Four models were presentedfor 10-s intervals:(1) upright spotted leopard ina stalking proe le with its head facing the subjects;(2) the same spotted model presentedupside down; (3) a dark-brown leopard model with the same cone guration as the spotted model; and e nally (4), the dark-brown model presented upside down. The upright models characterized the two leopard morphs found in the wild — spotted and dark melanic. Inverted presentations of the spotted model examined the effects of the same cone guration in an incongruous position to document whether leopard spots were still recognized. Differences between models were examined using alarm calls and e ight elicitationas indices of fear. The spotted upright model was found to be the most feared, followed by the spotted upside-down model, the dark upright model, and e nally the dark upside-down model. Analysis of when individuals looked at troop members to assess risks revealed that the spotted upright and dark upsidedown models engendered signie cantly lower frequencies of information seeking; the upright model typically engendered immediate e ight and the dark upside-down model was generally ignored. The spotted upside-down model and the dark upright model engendered high rates