PAIR-BONDING, FEMALE AGGRESSION AND THE EVOLUTION OF LEMUR SOCIETIES - KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Lemur societies have been described as convergent with those of anthro poids, including Papio-like female-bonded multi-male groups. Recent re search, however, shows at least 5 pair-bonded species among the Lemuri dae and Indriidae. Three more, Eulemur mongoz, Eulemur fulvus and Vare cia variegata, have societies combining aspects of pairing with aspect s of troop life. The best-known female-bonded societies, those of Lemu r catta, Propithecus diadema edwardsi and Propithecus verreauxi, may b e assemblages of mother-daughter dyads, capable of high aggression tow ards other females, but derived from more solitary female ancestors, p erhaps also Living as pairs. The internal structure of such lemur grou ps differs from the more extensive kin groups of catarrhines. This in turn may relate to the lemurs' level of social intelligence and to lem ur female dominance over males.