Responses to leopards are independent of experience in Guereza colobus monkeys

摘要: [How primates learn to recognise the predatory species from their animate world is a largely unresolved problem. We conducted predator encounter experiments with wild Guereza colobus monkeys of Sonso area Budongo Forest, Uganda. The are hunted by crowned eagles and chimpanzees, but not leopards, which have been locally extinct for decades. Despite unfamiliarity this predator, reliably produced appropriate anti-predator behaviour was indistinguishable that neighbouring population, where leopards present. In both populations, same vocal responses predator-specific alarm calls, although leopard-naive were more inclined approach when hearing leopard than familiar predator. Control showed monkeys' response pattern due effects or conspicuousness experimental stimuli. Natural selection appears endowed these cognitive capacity direct signs presence as inherently dangerous requiring specific responses., How responses.]