Compatibility of laboratory monkeys housed in grooming-contact cages varies by species and sex (2001)

Crockett, C. M., Koberstein, D., Heffernan, K. S.

Abstract

At the Washington Regional Primate Research Center, we promote grooming-contact caging as a means to provide laboratory monkeys with tactile social contact while maintaining research access to animals housed individually. Grooming contact is achieved through widely spaced vertical bars that permit grooming but not aggressive pursuit. The following pair compatibility was found: Macaca fascicularis male-female 97%, Macaca fascicularis female-female 89%, Macaca fascicularis male-male 63%, Papio cynocephalus male-female 88%, Papio cynocephalus female-female 57%, M. nemestrina male-female 78%, M. nemestrina male-male 57%%, M. nemestrina female-female 53%, M. mulatta male-male 45%. The majority of male-male pairs involved juveniles, so MMcompatibility percentages may overestimate compatibility of adult male pairs.