Life history and demography of wild moor macaques (Macaca maurus): Summaryof ten years of observations

Data on the life history and demography of individual species are indispens able when we discuss social behavior from an evolutionary perspective, and when we attempt to make adequate conservation plans. This is the first repo rt on the life history and demography of moor macaques in their natural hab itat. Moor macaques ((Macaca maurus) in the Karaenta Nature Reserve, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, have been observed since 1981. Individual identificati on of group members began in 1988. The size of the study group increased co ntinuously, from 20 to 43, over this 10-year period of observation (1988-19 98). The average population growth rate was 8.0%, and 45 births were confir med during this period. They were categorized as moderately seasonal breede rs. Mortality rate within one year after birth was 17.1%. Average inter-bir th interval following surviving infants was 24.1 months, while that followi ng early infant death was 15.0 months. As is the case in other species of m acaques, males moved between groups while females stayed in their natal gro ups. Females seemed to exhibit their first perineal swelling at 4-6 years o f age, and to have their first infant at 6-7 years. Males left their natal group at 7-9 years. Solitary males were seldom observed around the study gr oup. The late dispersal of males from their natal groups and their infreque nt movement between groups contrast with patterns in well-known macaque spe cies such as Japanese macaques. Recently, differences in social characteris tics among macaque species have attracted the attention of researchers. Our findings would be useful to further understanding of such social differenc es. Am. J. Primatol. 52:1-11, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.