Female participation in collective group defense in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra)

Female black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) significantly increase their participation in group defense during visual intergroup encounters, challenging the notion that males are the primary defenders in this species. The study, conducted over 28 months at Palenque National Park, Mexico, found that females called more frequently when rival groups were visible, rather than during spontaneous calls or responses to distant vocalizations. Additionally, dominant females in four of five study groups exhibited disproportionately high calling rates, suggesting a specialized role in social dynamics not previously documented for this species. The research highlights the nuanced contributions of females to cooperative defense strategies in primate societies.

Van Belle, S. (2015). Female participation in collective group defense in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). American Journal of Primatology, 77(6), 595–604. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22380