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Gibbon Song Duets and Intergroup Spacing

Gibbon Song Duets and Intergroup Spacing GIBBON SONG DUETS AND INTERGROUP SPACING by JOHN C. MITANI1)2) (Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, Calif. 95616 U.S.A.) (With 12 Figures) (Acc. 5-VI-1984) Gibbons, small apes found in Southeast Asian rainforests, have been the subjects of several recent field studies (ELLEFSON, 1968; CHIVERS, 1974; TENAZA, 1975; RAEMAEKERS, 1977; GITTINS, 1979; TILSON, 1979, 1981; § SRIKOSAMATARA, 1980; WHITTEN, 1980; BROCKELMAN & SRIKOSAMATARA, 1983). These studies reveal that gibbons possess a unique social system among hominoid primates: mated pairs of adults defend exclusive site- specific ranges. In addition to monogamy and the defense of space, sing- ing behavior is another distinguishing feature characterizing gibbons. With the exception of Kloss's gibbon (TENAZA, 1976; WHITTEN, 1983), adult pairs engage in frequent bouts of interactive singing. In his pioneering fieldwork on the white-handed gibbon, CARPENTER (1940) proposed that these song duets regulate intergroup spacing. Duets presumably advertise occupancy of an area and maintain distances among groups. Subsequent fieldworkers have agreed with this interpreta- tion (ELLEFSON, 1968; CHIVERS, 1974; MARSHALL & MARSHALL, 1976; TILSON, 1979; SRIKOSAMATARA & BROCKELMAN, 1983). Despite this consensus of opinion, few quantitative data exist to evaluate the intergroup spacing hypothesis. The most relevant observa- 1) I am extremely grateful http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Behaviour Brill

Gibbon Song Duets and Intergroup Spacing

Mitani, John C.
Behaviour , Volume 92 (1-2): 38 – Jan 1, 1985
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0005-7959
eISSN
1568-539X
DOI
10.1163/156853985x00389
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

GIBBON SONG DUETS AND INTERGROUP SPACING by JOHN C. MITANI1)2) (Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, Calif. 95616 U.S.A.) (With 12 Figures) (Acc. 5-VI-1984) Gibbons, small apes found in Southeast Asian rainforests, have been the subjects of several recent field studies (ELLEFSON, 1968; CHIVERS, 1974; TENAZA, 1975; RAEMAEKERS, 1977; GITTINS, 1979; TILSON, 1979, 1981; § SRIKOSAMATARA, 1980; WHITTEN, 1980; BROCKELMAN & SRIKOSAMATARA, 1983). These studies reveal that gibbons possess a unique social system among hominoid primates: mated pairs of adults defend exclusive site- specific ranges. In addition to monogamy and the defense of space, sing- ing behavior is another distinguishing feature characterizing gibbons. With the exception of Kloss's gibbon (TENAZA, 1976; WHITTEN, 1983), adult pairs engage in frequent bouts of interactive singing. In his pioneering fieldwork on the white-handed gibbon, CARPENTER (1940) proposed that these song duets regulate intergroup spacing. Duets presumably advertise occupancy of an area and maintain distances among groups. Subsequent fieldworkers have agreed with this interpreta- tion (ELLEFSON, 1968; CHIVERS, 1974; MARSHALL & MARSHALL, 1976; TILSON, 1979; SRIKOSAMATARA & BROCKELMAN, 1983). Despite this consensus of opinion, few quantitative data exist to evaluate the intergroup spacing hypothesis. The most relevant observa- 1) I am extremely grateful

Journal

Behaviour – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1985

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