Design of cages and diet for metabolic studies using small new world primates

Metabolic studies using monkeys are difficult. Some of the problems involved are discussed. A stainless-steel cage unit, suitable for metabolic studies using small New World monkeys, is described. The composition and method of preparation of an appropriate pelleted, semi-synthetic diet is also described.

Download Full-text

Referential alarm calling behaviour in New World primates

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/58.5.680 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 680-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Cristiane Cäsar ◽

Klaus Zuberbühler

Keyword(s):

New World ◽

General Pattern ◽

Referential Communication ◽

New World Monkeys ◽

Human Language ◽

New World Primates ◽

Ample Evidence ◽

Old World ◽

Call Type ◽

Wide Range

Abstract There is relatively good evidence that non-human primates can communicate about objects and events in their environment in ways that allow recipients to draw inferences about the nature of the event experienced by the signaller. In some species, there is also evidence that the basic semantic units are not individual calls, but call sequences and the combinations generated by them. These two findings are relevant to theories pertaining to the origins of human language because of the resemblances of these phenomena with linguistic reference and syntactic organisation. Until recently, however, most research efforts on the primate origins of human language have involved Old World species with comparatively few systematic studies on New World monkeys, which has prevented insights into the deeper phylogenetic roots and evolutionary origins of language-relevant capacities. To address this, we review the older primate literature and very recent evidence for functionally referential communication and call combinations in New World primates. Within the existing literature there is ample evidence in both Callitrichids and Ce-bids for acoustically distinct call variants given to external disturbances that are accompanied by distinct behavioural responses. A general pattern is that one call type is typically produced in response to a wide range of general disturbances, often on the ground but also including inter-group encounters, while another call type is produced in response to a much narrower range of aerial threats. This pattern is already described for Old World monkeys and Prosimians, suggesting an early evolutionary origin. Second, recent work with black-fronted titi monkeys has produced evidence for different alarm call sequences consisting of acoustically distinct call types. These sequences appear to encode several aspects of the predation event simultaneously, notably predator type and location. Since meaningful call sequences have already been described in Old World primates, we suggest that basic combinatorial vocal communication has evolved in the primate lineage long before the advent of language. Moreover, it is possible that some of these communicative abilities have evolved even earlier, or independently, as there is comparable evidence in other taxonomic groups. We discuss these findings in an attempt to shed further light on the primate stock from which human language has arisen.

Download Full-text

Resolving the organization of the third tier visual cortex in primates: A hypothesis-based approach

Visual Neuroscience ◽

10.1017/s0952523815000073 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

ALESSANDRA ANGELUCCI ◽

MARCELLO G.P. ROSA

Keyword(s):

Visual Cortex ◽

Experimental Evidence ◽

Visual Processing ◽

New World ◽

Dorsal Stream ◽

Macaque Monkey ◽

New World Monkeys ◽

New World Primates ◽

Developmental Context ◽

The Third

AbstractAs highlighted by several contributions to this special issue, there is still ongoing debate about the number, exact location, and boundaries of the visual areas located in cortex immediately rostral to the second visual area (V2), i.e., the “third tier” visual cortex, in primates. In this review, we provide a historical overview of the main ideas that have led to four models of third tier cortex organization, which are at the center of today's debate. We formulate specific predictions of these models, and compare these predictions with experimental evidence obtained primarily in New World primates. From this analysis, we conclude that only one of these models (the “multiple-areas” model) can accommodate the breadth of available experimental evidence. According to this model, most of the third tier cortex in New World primates is occupied by two distinct areas, both representing the full contralateral visual quadrant: the dorsomedial area (DM), restricted to the dorsal half of the third visual complex, and the ventrolateral posterior area (VLP), occupying its ventral half and a substantial fraction of its dorsal half. DM belongs to the dorsal stream of visual processing, and overlaps with macaque parietooccipital (PO) area (or V6), whereas VLP belongs to the ventral stream and overlaps considerably with area V3 proposed by others. In contrast, there is substantial evidence that is inconsistent with the concept of a single elongated area V3 lining much of V2. We also review the experimental evidence from macaque monkey and humans, and propose that, once the data are interpreted within an evolutionary-developmental context, these species share a homologous (but not necessarily identical) organization of the third tier cortex as that observed in New World monkeys. Finally, we identify outstanding issues, and propose experiments to resolve them, highlighting in particular the need for more extensive, hypothesis-driven investigations in macaque and humans.

Download Full-text

Tissue expression of antigens of ABH blood groups in species of New World Monkeys (Aotus infulatus, Callithrix jacchus, Sapajus apella and Saimiri sciureus)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0241487 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0241487

Author(s):

Délia Cristina Figueira Aguiar ◽

Washington Luiz Assunção Pereira ◽

Gyselly de Cássia Bastos de Matos ◽

Klena Sarges Marruaz da Silva ◽

Rosane do Socorro Pompeu de Loiola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New World ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Tissue Expression ◽

Saimiri Sciureus ◽

New World Monkeys ◽

New World Primates ◽

Human Type ◽

Sapajus Apella ◽

Mesodermal Origin ◽

Species Specific

ABH antigens are histo-antigens, but were first described on the surface of human erythrocytes. They are found in those cells only in great apes and humans, while in more primitive animals they are found in tissues and body fluids. ABH antigens are mainly distributed in tissues that are in contact with the external environment and may serve as ligands for pathogens in tissues or block their connection. Description of the distribution of these molecules in non-human primate tissues is restricted to a few tissues and species. This paper describes the expression of human A, B and H type antigens in different organs from four species of New World Primates, obtained from the Centro Nacional de Primatas, as well as comparing that expression with what has been described for humans. In this study, although the tissue description of the antigens is similar to the genetic model for humans, some differences in expression between some organs from those species and those of humans were found. The differences occurred mainly in endodermal organs that have secretory functions and are probably under the control of the human-type FUT-2 enzyme. In the mesodermal-origin organs there was a reduction or absence of A and B antigen marking, particularly in the H precursor substance, indicating that those organs are under the control of the human-type FUT-1 enzyme. These findings have demonstrated that there is similar ABH antigen reactivity in tissue distribution between the species, although there are some species-specific cases.

Download Full-text

Contrasting Rates of LINE-1 Amplification among New World Primates of the Atelidae Family

Cytogenetic and Genome Research ◽

10.1159/000490481 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 154 (4) ◽

pp. 217-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Akash Sookdeo ◽

Manuel Ruiz-García ◽

Horacio Schneider ◽

Stéphane Boissinot

Keyword(s):

New World ◽

Single Species ◽

Spider Monkeys ◽

New World Monkeys ◽

South American ◽

Evolutionary Analysis ◽

New World Primates ◽

Mammalian Genomes ◽

Host Life ◽

Control Of Transposition

LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposons constitute the dominant category of transposons in mammalian genomes. L1 elements are active in the vast majority of mammals, and only a few cases of L1 extinction have been documented. The only possible case of extinction in primates was suggested for South American spider monkeys. However, these previous studies were based on a single species. We revisited this question with a larger phylogenetic sample, covering all 4 genera of Atelidae and 3 species of spider monkeys. We used an enrichment method to clone recently inserted L1 elements and performed an evolutionary analysis of the sequences. We were able to identify young L1 elements in all taxa, suggesting that L1 is probably still active in all Atelidae examined. However, we also detected considerable variations in the proportion of recent elements indicating that the rate of L1 amplification varies among Atelidae by a 3-fold factor. The extent of L1 amplification in Atelidae remains overall lower than in other New World monkeys. Multiple factors can affect the amplification of L1, such as the demography of the host and the control of transposition. These factors are discussed in the context of host life history.

Download Full-text