Natural Behavior

Recommendations for the care of amphibians and reptiles in academic institutions

Amphibians and reptiles differ in many respects from the mammals and birds most commonly used in biomedical research. These differences affect the physical and biological requirements of amphibians and reptiles in captivity. In this contribution, some basic biological characteristics of...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Amphibian, Crocodile & Alligator, Frog & Toad, Lizard, Reptile, Salamander, Snake, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Pough, F. H. 1991. Recommendations for the care of amphibians and reptiles in academic institutions. ILAR Journal 33(4), S1-S21.

Voluntary progression order in captive rhesus macaques

The sequence in which 14 laboratory rhesus macaques left their home enclosure during a routine catching procedure was recorded on 30 occasions during 6 weeks. The animals were trained to voluntarily exit one by one and enter a transport cage...

Year Published: 1992Topics: Handling, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 1992. Voluntary progression order in captive rhesus macaques. Zoo Biology 11,(1) 61-66.

Bedding for enrichment

When forage materials [chicken scratch] are provided, bedding materials, such as straw or shredded newspaper, along with woodchips increase the amount of time the captive chimpanzee spends in search of forage materials. ... Whether this be the normal time for...

Year Published: 1992Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Poenisch, T. 1992. Bedding for enrichment. The Newsletter 4(1), 1.

A semi-natural habitat for housing small, nonhuman primates

A semi-natural habitat that was designed to house a group of squirrel monkeys is described. Animals maintained in this environment were healthy, and none of the animals exhibited locomotor stereotypies. This facility was easier and more economical to maintain than...

Year Published: 1993Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Capuchin, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Marriott, B. M., Marriott, R. W., Norris, J. et al. 1993. A semi-natural habitat for housing small, nonhuman primates. Journal of Medical Primatology 22, 348-354.

Caged stumptailed macaques voluntarily work for ordinary food

Ninety-nine of the biscuits were placed in a freely accessible dish attached to the mesh of the front of the cage. Thirty-three biscuits were offered in a food puzzle. Twenty-five percent (4/16) of the subjects ignored the food puzzle during...

Year Published: 1994Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: O'Connor, E., Reinhardt, V. 1994. Caged stumptailed macaques voluntarily work for ordinary food. In Touch 1(1), 10-11.

Caged rhesus macaques voluntarily work for ordinary food

Eight single-caged adult rhesus macaques were given the choice of freely collecting their standard food ration, i.e. 33 biscuits, from an ordinary food box or working for its retrieval from a custom- made food puzzle. During a one-hour observation session...

Year Published: 1994Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 1994. Caged rhesus macaques voluntarily work for ordinary food. Primates 35, 95-98.

The formation of a captive squirrel monkey group

It is important that all females of a new [heterosexual] group are related to each other, that is, that they come from the same natal group. The introduction of unfamiliar females to a small group with several females can result...

Year Published: 1997Topics: Natural Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Squirrel Monkey

Citation: Vermeer, J. 1997. The formation of a captive squirrel monkey group. International Zoo News 44, 146-149.

Power for captive animals – Contingencies and nature

Some of the examples provided here serve to illustrate that being able to maintain some control, even over limited aspects of their environment, is also of critical importance to nonhuman primates.

Year Published: 1998Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Markowitz, H. , Aday, C. 1998. Power for captive animals - Contingencies and nature. In: Second Nature - Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals. Shepherdson, D. H., Mellen, J. D., Hutchins, M. (eds), 47-58. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

Promoting species typical behavior in Coquerel’s sifakas (Propithecus Verreauxi Coquereli)

The sifakas rarely were observed on the ground, preferring to locomote on vertical substrates and rest on vertical and horizontal elevated substrates in all four size categories. Therefore, if vertical surfaces were absent from captive habitats, these rare lemurs could...

Year Published: 1998Topics: Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Taylor, L. L. 1998. Promoting species typical behavior in Coquerel's sifakas (Propithecus Verreauxi Coquereli). American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Regional Conference Proceedings, 599-603.

Environmental enrichment: Evaluation of the behavioural modifications in the presence of four kinds of litter in Cebus capucinus

A captive group of white-faced capuchins, Cebus capucinus, was presented with four deep litters in simultaneous choice (or preference) tests. A floor covering of ground corn cob, woodchips, wood wool or peat was presented once in each quarter of the...

Year Published: 1999Topics: Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ludes-Fraulob, E. 1999. Environmental enrichment: Evaluation of the behavioural modifications in the presence of four kinds of litter in Cebus capucinus. Primatologie 2, 435-448. [French text with English summary]