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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao American Journal of ...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
American Journal of Primatology
Article . 2013 . Peer-reviewed
License: Wiley Online Library User Agreement
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Variation in Scrotal Color Among Widely Distributed Vervet Monkey Populations (Chlorocebus Aethiops Pygerythrus and Chlorocebus Aethiops Sabaeus)

Authors: Cramer, Jennifer Danzy; Gaetano, Tegan; Gray, Joseph P.; Grobler, Paul; Lorenz, Joseph G.; Freimer, Nelson B.; Schmitt, Christopher A.; +1 Authors

Variation in Scrotal Color Among Widely Distributed Vervet Monkey Populations (Chlorocebus Aethiops Pygerythrus and Chlorocebus Aethiops Sabaeus)

Abstract

AbstractVervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) exhibit bright blue scrotal skin which may function to mediate social interactions by acting as a socio‐sexual signal. Previous research on scrotal coloration among vervet monkeys was limited to experimental work on captive Ch. a. sabaeus, the least colorful vervet subspecies, and two field studies of the more colorful Ch. a. pygerythrus. In a study of free‐ranging and captive vervet monkeys in South Africa (Ch. pygerythrus), West Africa (Ch. a. sabaeus) and the Caribbean (Ch. a. sabaeus), we examined scrotal color variation across geographically distant subspecies. We provide an exploration of how digital photographs may be used to quantify and analyze blue and green skin coloration by examining the blue–yellow opponency channel and luminance channel as color measures. We found that that at all ages the scrotal color of Ch. a. pygerythrus males was always bluer and darker than that of Ch. a. sabaeus males. Among Ch. a. pygerythrus scrotal color becomes bluer and lightens with increasing age, while the color of Ch. a. sabaeus males also lightens, but becomes less blue with increasing age. We suggest that color variation is related to maturation and may function as an age‐related signal among Ch. a. pygerythrus and Ch. a. sabaeus. We also found color was related to three morphological features among adults. For Ch. a. pygerythrus, higher body weight is associated with more blue color and longer canine length is associated with lighter color. Lighter color was associated with longer body lengths among Ch. a. sabaeus. Future studies focused on color variation within age classes are needed to examine the potential signal content of color in this species. Am. J. Primatol. 75:752–762, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Country
United States
Keywords

Male, Aging, Biological and Physical Anthropology, Animals, Wild, Pigments, Biological, Cercopithecinae, Vervet monkeys, Animal Sciences, Animal Studies, Scrotum, Animals, signal, body color display, Zoology, Demography

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
49
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
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