Individual‐ and Sex‐related Strategies of Wrestling Play in Captive Squirrel Monkeys

Abstract

Abstract The play behavior of 10 juvenile squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) was observed for 7 months in both mixed‐sex and same‐sex laboratory social groupings to identify strategies by which individuals may derive maximum benefit from play. Two types of play wrestling were identified: directional if one partner was on top of and dominating the other, and nondirectional if both partners hung from a perch and clasped each other equally. Males (N=5) wrestled more often, had longer bouts, and used proportionately more directional wrestling than did females (N = 5). Initiation Behaviors, leading predictably to play, were performed preferentially to certain partners, independent of affiliative (huddling) preferences. Both sexes performed more Initiation Behaviors to same‐sex partners. Individuals, regardless of sex, preferred play partners whom they could dominate during directional wrestling; with partners whom they could not dominate, they preferred nondirectional wrestling, where partners were equal. The observed preferences are interpreted as evidence for individual strategies maximizing winning at directional wrestling. Role reversal is discussed as a strategy encouraging play between youngsters of diverse abilities, and as a means of providing needed experience in a variety of social roles.

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