Development of contact behaviors in mother and infant in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca facscicularis) during the first three months of infant's life

Abstract

Contact behaviors in mother-infant relationships was investigated in this study. Eight pairs of infant (four males and four females) and mother were observed for the first three months of infant age. Behaviors monitored included contact, proximity, infant's locomotion, clinging, nipple contact, embrace, and grooming. Contact, proximity, and most of infant's behaviors decreased with the passage of time (Table 1). But other behaviors, particularly mother's locomotion and grooming did not the tendency (Table 1). Contact, clinging, and embrace decreased rapidly between 1 week and 1 month of infant life (Figs.1, 2b, and 3b), but nipple contact and grooming did not show this tendency (Figs. 2b and 3b). It suggests that mother and infant relationship in early stage of development is a process to change very gradually.