Some effects of living conditions upon the pattern of growth in stumptail macaque (Macaca arctoides) (1978)

Faucheux, B., Bertrand, M., Bourliere, F.

Abstract

Confinement and prolonged lack of physical exercise are very probably responsible for the reduced weight and size of our monkeys bred in laboratory conditions. ... This is apparently due to the impaired development and resulting athrophy of the muscles, particularly those of the hind quarters. This athrophy was especially noticeable in lab-bred group II monkeys which have been kept in small individual cages [0.8 x 0.8 x 0.6 m] for years. .... The ways in which most primates are bred and kept in many research laboratories are obviously far from ideal. Many 'normal' control subjects might well be in fact abnormal both somatically and behaviorally.