Bruce Bagemihl - Biological Exuberance

Same-sex activity occurs in several other species of Central and South American monkeys. Homosexual mounting (in both males and females), including pelvic thrusting and genital rubbing on the partner, has been observed in a variety of Tamarin species, including the Saddle-back Tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis) , the Mustached Tamarin (S. mystax) , and the Cotton-top Tamarin (S. oedipus) . Both male and female Lion Tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) sometimes mount their own offspring of both sexes, including adolescents and younger individuals. Approximately 1 percent of mounting activity in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jac-chus) occurs among adolescent and younger males (brothers living in the same family group). In White-fronted Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus albifrons) , young males occasionally suck and fondle the scrotum of older males, while homosexual activity among females (including mounting) also occurs in Brown Capuchins (C. apella) and Weeper Capuchins (C. olivaceous) . More than half of all mounting in White-faced Capuchins (C. capucinus) is between same-sex partners, often preceded by a type of courtship activity known as WHEEZE DANCING, involving contorted postures, wheezing vocalizations, and “slow-motion” chases.

*asterisked references discuss homosexualityltransgender

*Akers, J. S., and C. H. Conaway (1979) “Female Homosexual Behavior in Macaca mulatta.” Archives of Sexual Behavior 8:63—80.

*Anschel, S., and G. Talmage-Riggs (1978) “Social Structure Dynamics in Small Groups of Captive Squirrel Monkeys.” In D. J. Chivers and J. Herbert, eds., Recent Advances in Primatology, vol. 1, pp. 601—4. New York: Academic Press.

*Baldwin, J. D. (1969) “The Ontogeny of Social Behavior of Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) in a Seminatural Environment.” Folia Primatologica 11:35—79.

———(1968) “The Social Behavior of Adult Male Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) in a Seminatural Environment.” Folia Primatologica 9:281—314.

Baldwin, J. D., and J. I. Baldwin (1981) “The Squirrel Monkeys, Genus Saimiri.” In A. F. Coimbra-Filho and R. A. Mittermeier, eds., Ecology and Behavior of Neotropical Primates , vol. 1, pp. 277—330. Rio de Janeiro: Academia Brasileira de Ciencias.

*Castell, R., and B. Heinrich (1971) “Rank Order in a Captive Female Squirrel Monkey Colony.” Folia Primatologica 14:182—89.

Dawson, G. A. (1976) “Behavioral Ecology of the Panamanian Tamarin, Saguinus oedipus (Callitrichidae, Primates).” Ph.D. thesis, Michigan State University.

*Defler, T. R. (1979) “On the Ecology and Behavior of Cebus albifrons in Eastern Colombia: II. Behavior.” Primates 20:491—502.

*Denniston, R. H. (1980) “Ambisexuality in Animals.” In J. Marmor, ed., Homosexual Behavior: A Modern Reappraisal , pp. 25—40. New York: Basic Books.

*DuMond, F. V. (1968) “The Squirrel Monkey in a Seminatural Environment.” In L. A. Rosenblum and R. W. Cooper, eds., The Squirrel Monkey , pp. 87-145. New York: Academic Press.

DuMond, F. V., and T. C. Hutchinson (1967) “Squirrel Monkey Reproduction: The ‘Fatted’ Male Phenomenon and Seasonal Spermatogenesis.” Science 158:1067—70.

*Hoage, R. J. (1982) Social and Physical Maturation in Captive Lion Tamarins , Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia (Primates: Callitrichidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology no. 354. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Hopf, S., E. Hartmann-Wiesner, B. Kuhlmorgen, and S. Mayer (1974) “The Behavioral Repertoire of the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri).” Folia Primatologica 21:225—49.

Latta, J., S. Hopf, and D. Ploog (1967) “Observation of Mating Behavior and Sexual Play in the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus).” Primates 8:229—46.

*Linn, G. S., D. Mase, D. LaFrançois, R. T. O’Keeffe, and K. Lifshitz (1995) “Social and Menstrual Cycle Phase Influences on the Behavior of Group-Housed Cebus apella.” American Journal of Primatology 35:41—57.

*Manson, J. H., S. Perry, and A. R. Parish (1997) “Nonconceptive Sexual Behavior in Bonobos and Capuchins.” International Journal of Primatology 18:767-86.

*Mendoza, S. P., and W. A. Mason (1991) “Breeding Readiness in Squirrel Monkeys: Female-Primed Females are Triggered by Males.” Physiology & Behavior 49:471—79.

Mitchell, C. L. (1994) “Migration Alliances and Coalitions Among Adult Male South American Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).” Behavior 130:169—90.

*Moynihan, M. (1970) Some Behavior Patterns of Platyrrhine Monkeys . II. Saguinus geoffroyi and Some Other Tamarins . Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology no. 28. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

*Perry, S. (1998) “Male-Male Social Relationships in Wild White-faced Capuchins, Cebus capucinus.” Behavior 135:139—72.

Peters, M. (1970) “Mouth to Mouth Contact in Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).” Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 27:1009—10.

Ploog, D. W (1967) “The Behavior of Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) as Revealed by Sociometry, Bioa-coustics, and Brain Stimulation.” In S. Altmann, ed., Social Communication Among Primates , pp. 149— 84. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

*Ploog, D. W., J. Blitz, and F. Ploog (1963) “Studies on the Social and Sexual Behavior of the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus).” Folia Primatologica 1:29—66.

Ploog, D. W., and P. D. Maclean (1963) “Display of Penile Erection in Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus).” Animal Behavior 11:32—39.

Rosenblum, L.A. (1968) “Mother-Infant Relations and Early Behavioral Development in the Squirrel Monkey.” In L. A. Rosenblum and R. W. Cooper, eds., The Squirrel Monkey, pp. 207—33. New York: Academic Press.

*Rothe, H. (1975) “Some Aspects of Sexuality and Reproduction in Groups of Captive Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).” Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 37:255-73.

*Shadle, A. R., E. A. Mirand, and J. T. Grace Jr. (1965) “Breeding Responses in Tamarins.” Laboratory Animal Care 15:1—10.

Skinner, C. (1985) “A Field Study of Geoffroy’s Tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) in Panama.” American Journal of Primatology 9:15—25.

Snowdon, C. T. (1996) “Infant Care in Cooperatively Breeding Species.” Advances in the Study of Behavior 25:643—89.

Srivastava, P. K., F. Cavazos, and F. V. Lucas (1970) “Biology of Reproduction in the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus): I. The Estrus Cycle.” Primates 11:125—34.

*Talmage-Riggs, G., and S. Anschel (1973) “Homosexual Behavior and Dominance in a Group of Captive Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).” Folia Primatologica 19:61—72.

*Travis, J. C., and W. N. Holmes (1974) “Some Physiological and Behavioral Changes Associated with Oestrus and Pregnancy in the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus).” Journal of Zoology, London 174:41— 66.

*Vasey, P. L.(1995) “Homosexual Behavior in Primates: A Review of Evidence and Theory.” International Journal of Primatology 16:173—204.

IDENTIFICATION: A long-legged lemur with a plush white coat, black face, black or brown crown and underparts, and long tail (nearly 2 feet). DISTRIBUTION: Western and southern Madagascar; vulnerable. HABITAT: Forests. STUDY AREA: Near Hazafotsy, Madagascar; subspecies P.v. verreauxi.