biostudies-literatureZhao HSpecial Foundation of Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, ChinaShaanxi Special Support Plan for High-level TalentsChina Postdoctoral Science FoundationMeituan Qingshan Public Welfare Special Fund of China Environmental Protection FundNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaShaanxi Key Research and Development ProgramXi'an Science and Technology Plan3075https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11545503biostudies-literatureUnknown14(21)Adoption among nonhuman primates (hereafter primates) has been widely reported, particularly in chimpanzees, renowned for their higher intelligence and well-developed cognition. In contrast to adoption in other Old World monkeys, this case of adoption in golden snub-nosed monkeys (<i>Rhinopithecus roxellana</i>) involves two infants associated with three units characterized by distinct social structures and reproductive functions. Consequently, this case extends beyond traditional hypotheses on allomaternal care and adoption-such as enhancing the fitness of adoptive mothers, fostering maternal behaviors, and improving fitness through social and individual interactions-to necessitate an association with the complex social structure characterized by hierarchical, multilevel composition, akinAnimals : an open access journal from MDPIA Unique Case of Adoption in Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys.PMC115455032021k-5, 2022k-7, 2023k-38, 2023k-45, 2024P-02Shaanxi Talent Letter [2022] No.62023-YBNY-131, 2024JC-YWGCZ-05CEPFQS202169-1123RKYJ00342021M702653, 2024T17073132270536; 32371563Li JPan RLi BWang YZhao HLi NfalseA Unique Case of Adoption in Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys.Adoption among nonhuman primates (hereafter primates) has been widely reported, particularly in chimpanzees, renowned for their higher intelligence and well-developed cognition. In contrast to adoption in other Old World monkeys, this case of adoption in golden snub-nosed monkeys (<i>Rhinopithecus roxellana</i>) involves two infants associated with three units characterized by distinct social structures and reproductive functions. Consequently, this case extends beyond traditional hypotheses on allomaternal care and adoption-such as enhancing the fitness of adoptive mothers, fostering maternal behaviors, and improving fitness through social and individual interactions-to necessitate an association with the complex social structure characterized by hierarchical, multilevel composition, akin2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2026-07-09T13:16:33.838Z2025-04-04T18:57:10.754ZS-EPMC115455033951879910.3390/ani14213075