Behavioral development of captive male hybrid cercopithecine monkeys.

In this study, we compare the behavioral development of captive male vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and Sykes' monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis) to male hybrids of these species. Focal animal sampling sessions were conducted on the study subjects from birth to 90 months of age. Behavioral categories (affiliative, approach, play, sexual, tension, aggressive) were plotted for each species and the hybrids; curves were fitted using polynomial regression and were evaluated with the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. With the exception of play behaviors, the male C. pygerythrus x C. albogularis hybrids modeled the Sykes' pattern of behavioral development. We suggest that this result reflects a sex-linked paternal effect.