GUSTATORY THRESHOLDS FOR FOOD-ASSOCIATED SUGARS IN THE SPIDER MONKEY (ATELES-GEOFFROYI)

The purpose of this study was to determine gustatory thresholds for fi ve different food-associated sugars in Ateles geoffroyi. Using a two-b ottle test, three adult spider monkeys were found to significantly pre fer concentrations as low as 3 mM sucrose, 15 mM fructose, 20 mM gluco se, and 10 mM lactose over tap water. Maltose was significantly discri minated down to 20 mM with individual animals showing either a prefere nce or an aversion, or an inverted U-shaped function of preference tow ard higher concentrations of this carbohydrate. The results showed the spider monkey to respond to lower sugar concentrations compared to ot her nonhuman primates tested so far and thus support the assumptions t hat Ateles geoffroyi may use sweetness as a criterion for food selecti on, and that the remarkably high sweet-taste sensitivity of this frugi vorous species might be correlated with its dietary specialization. (C ) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.