In neotropical forests, a wide range of tree species depend on effective seed dispersal by primates for successful seedling establishment and recruitment (Howe 1986,Janzen 1970). In Guianan rainforests, for instance, a community of up to eight primates ranging from 0.4 to 13 kg (Emmons & Feer 1990) consume fruits and defecate seeds of at least 180 plant species belonging to more than 50 families (Guillotin et al. 1994, Julliot & Sabatier 1993, Mittermeier & van Roosmalen 1981, Simmen & Sabatier 1996, van Roosmalen 1985). Although there is an abundant literature on fruit consumption, ingestion, dispersal and predation of primate-dispersed tree species, almost nothing is known about the final fate of naturally-dispersed seeds throughout the seedling and juvenile stages (see Howe 1990, 1993; Howe et al. 1985). In this paper, the seedling shadow of a frugivore-dispersed tree species in French Guiana is illustrated and data on 4 y of seedling dynamics are presented. The species will be described by D. Sabatier elsewhere (pers. comm.) as a new taxon of Virola; the type voucher number is Daniel Sabatier 931, from tree B in this study, and is deposited at the herbarium collections of Cayenne, Paris, Utrecht, New York and Kew). This study is the first report to date on the consequences of seed dispersal by a neotropical rain forest monkey. This study was carried out at the Nouragues Biological Reserve, near to the Arataye River at the Saut Parare waterfall area (52?40'W, 4?02'N) (Dubost