Possible Infanticidal Event of an Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) in Torotorofotsy, Madagascar
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Published:2021
Issue:3
Volume:92
Page:183-190
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ISSN:0015-5713
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Container-title:Folia Primatologica
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Folia Primatol
Author:
Rakotondrazandry Jeannin Nicolas,Sefczek Timothy M.,Frasier Cynthia L.,Villanova Vicki L.,Rasoloharijaona Solofonirina,Raveloson Herimalala,Louis, Jr. Edward E.
Abstract
Infanticide occurs in an array of mammalian species, especially primates. Most infanticidal events occur in polygynous societies, though they sometimes happen in nongregarious populations. We witnessed a possible infanticidal event of a 3-month-old male aye-aye, a species that exhibits a dispersed multimale social system, in Torotorofotsy, Madagascar. Though firsthand killing of the infant was not observed, physical injuries to the infant, vocalizations of the adult female, and her subsequent chase of the adult male aye-aye strongly indicates infanticide. If true, this would be the first recorded incident of an infanticidal event in a noyau primate. The evidence for three different explanations of infanticide is evaluated.
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics