1
|
Roura-Torres B, Amblard-Rambert P, Lepou P, Kappeler PM, Charpentier MJE. Stillbirth of a mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) in the wild: perinatal behaviors and delivery sequences. Primates 2024; 65:75-80. [PMID: 38133716 PMCID: PMC10884356 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-023-01112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Birth is a fundamental event in the life of animals, including our own species. More reports of wild non-human primate births and stillbirths are thus needed to better understand the evolutionary pressures shaping parturition behaviors in our lineage. In diurnal non-human primates, births generally occur at night, when individuals are resting. Consequently, they are difficult to observe in the wild and most of the current knowledge regarding perinatal behaviors comes from rare daytime births. Information about stillbirths is even rarer and their proximate causes are generally unknown. Here, we present detailed observations of a daytime birth of a stillborn wild mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). During this event, which lasted an entire day, we recorded the behaviors of the parturient female ad libitum, using video recordings and photos. The 5-year-old female was primiparous and of low dominance rank. The length of her pregnancy was shorter than usual and the partum phase was extremely long compared to other birth reports in non-human primates. The female disappeared shortly after this event and was assumed to have died. We discuss the possible causes of this stillbirth including the infant's presentation at birth and maternal inexperience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Berta Roura-Torres
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37007, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- ISEM, UMR5554-University of Montpellier/CNRS/IRD/EPHE, Place Eugène Bataillon (cc065), 34905, Montpellier, France.
| | | | - Pascal Lepou
- Projet Mandrillus, Parc de la Lékédi, BP 52, Bakoumba, Gabon
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37007, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marie J E Charpentier
- ISEM, UMR5554-University of Montpellier/CNRS/IRD/EPHE, Place Eugène Bataillon (cc065), 34905, Montpellier, France
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Bücklestraβe 5, 78467, Constance, Germany
| |
Collapse
|