Patterns of body fat deposition and reliability of fat indices in wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) were examined using 50 (22 females and 28 males) adult (≥5 years of age) specimens. The body fat reserve (%), which was calculated as [amount of whole visible body fat]/[carcass body weight]×100, is highly correlated with subcutaneous fat and mesentery (including omentum) fat. Body fat reserve was estimated as 302×(mesentery fat/body weight)-0.62. Body fat reserve exhibits a significant seasonality in both sexes.

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Since the 1950's numerous hominoid fossils have been discovered in the Yunnan Province, southern China, from several late Miocene-early Pliocene localities. These fossil specimens occur together with small prosimian fossils, and can be divided into two groups by the overall size.
The larger specimens have formerly been classified into two taxa: a larger species, “Sivapithecus yunnanensis”, and a smaller one, “Ramapithecus lufengensis”. At present, however, they are generally regarded as a single taxon, Lufengpithecus lufengensis, which shows a remarkable sexual dimorphism. In spite of the abundant fossil materials, the phylogenetic position of Lufengpithecus is still obscure. Some researchers regard it to be a close relative of Sivapithecus from the middle Miocene Siwalik sediments in India and Pakistan, while others suggest more affinities to European dryopithecids denying a close relationship between Lufengpithecus and Sivapithecus. Therefore, the hypothetical relationship between Sivapithecus, Lufengpithecus, and extant Pongo need to be reconsidered.
On the other hand, smaller specimens are identified as a single species, Laccopithecus robustus, which has been regarded as an ancestral group of living gibbons. Recently many researchers, however, advocate that Laccopithecus is closely related to European pliopithecids but not to extant hylobatids.
Thus, the phylogenetic positions of Yunnan hominoid fossils are now in debate. The evolutionary process of eastern Asian hominoids should be reconstructed considering a possible phyletic relationship with European hominoid species.

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This study describes five cases of female behavior at parturition in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. The five cases were observed and video-recorded in August 1995 and August to September 1996. Previously there was only one descriptive report on the birth of this species (Sauther, 1991). This is the second report. All the cases were observed in daytime. The baby was born on the tree in four cases, while one case was observed on the ground. The mothers continued contractions, sitting and stretched their body before birth. After birth, the mothers licked the infant, chewed the umbilical cord, and ate the placenta quickly after issued. In some cases, the troop members moved away from them, and there were little interactions between the mothers and the other individuals, because of the mothers concentrated on taking care of newborn infant.

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A brief survey on primates in Vietnam was carried out in February-March 1997. At least 15 species of primates have been recorded in Vietnam. Only 2 species were directly seen during this survey. The result of the survey suggested that the population density of primates in Vietnam was extremely low. Primate fauna was greatly affected by bombing and chemical defoliant spraying during the war. Hunting pressure appeared to be the most immediate threat to the remaining populations. Recently the local government and foreign researchers and organizations have made some efforts to protect the endangered species. Field studies on the distribution and ecology will contribute to the conservation of primates in Vietnam.

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