Potential self-medication by brown titi monkeys, Plecturocebus brunneus, in an urban fragment forest in the Brazilian Amazon

In this study, we report fur-rubbing behavior of brown titi monkeys, Plecturocebus brunneus, using chewed leaves from (Fabaceae) and Piper tuberculatum (Piperaceae). These reports were obtained during systematic monitoring of titi monkeys from May until December 2019 (218 h) in an urban fragment for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Primate Biology Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 35 - 39
Main Authors:	Oliveira, Brenda Letícia Pereira, Souza-Alves, João Pedro, Oliveira, Marcela Alvares
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Copernicus GmbH 15-12-2020
Subjects:	Short Communication
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	In this study, we report fur-rubbing behavior of brown titi monkeys, Plecturocebus brunneus, using chewed leaves from (Fabaceae) and Piper tuberculatum (Piperaceae). These reports were obtained during systematic monitoring of titi monkeys from May until December 2019 (218 h) in an urban fragment forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Both plant species contain chemical substances in their leaves that potentially repel ectoparasites. The genus Piper is known for its repelling action due to the presence of amides, alkaloids and benzoic acid. The presence of dogs, cats and human settlements may contribute to an increase of ectoparasites, making a potential self-medication function of fur rubbing in this primate species plausible.
ISSN:	2363-4707 2363-4715
DOI:	10.5194/pb-7-35-2020