scholarly journals An observation of intergroup infanticide in grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena)

Behaviour ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 157 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1091-1098
Author(s):  
Michelle Brown

Abstract In primates, infanticide is occasionally observed during intergroup conflicts but does not fit the predictions of the sexual selection hypothesis. I report an observation of an intergroup infanticide during a sub-group foray in grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena) at the Ngogo site in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Intergroup infanticide appears to be a form of extreme and long-term food defence across primate species, and occurs in conjunction with other forms of food defence.

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meeghan E Gray

Infanticide by adult males occurs in a variety of species. While infanticidal attacks have been documented in several equid species in captivity, it has never been witnessed in free-roaming feral horses. I report an infanticide attempt by a free-living feral stallion on a recently born female foal. The stallion picked up the foal by the shoulders, tossed it around twice and bit in on the neck several times. The dam of the foal charged the stallion and successfully protected her foal from additional attacks. The foal survived the attack and later weaned successfully. The stallion recently took over the band and was excluded as the sire through genetic analysis. While this type of attack is rare, this case lends support to the sexual selection hypothesis and further demonstrates that equids have evolved with the risk of infanticide. Furthermore, it shows that maternal protectiveness can be successful against attacks by infanticidal males.


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