A multi-level society comprised of one-male and multi-male core units in an African colobine (Colobus angolensis ruwenzorii).

ABSTRACT: Several mammalian species exhibit complex, nested social organizations, termed multi-level or modular societies. Multi-level societies comprise stable core units that fission and fuse with one another in a hierarchical manner, forming groups that vary in size over time. Among nonhuman primates, these social systems have been confirmed in several African papionin and Asian colobine species. We use data from August 2017 to July 2018 on individually-recognized Rwenzori Angolan colobus living near Lake Nabugabo, Uganda to document the first multi-level society in an African colobine. The study band comprised up to 135 individuals organized into 12 socially and spatially distinct core units that ranged in size from 4 to 23 individuals. These core units showed a strong affinity to one another, s

SUBMITTER: Stead SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6795445 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature