Stone-throwing by Japanese macaques: form and functional aspects of a group-specific behavioral tradition

Journal of Human Evolution
Jean-Baptiste LecaMichael A Huffman

Abstract

Throwing is a major behavioral component of hominid evolution. Comparison of this behavior across a broad range of non-human primate species is needed to elucidate the phylogenetic constraints on throwing behavior. In this study of stone-throwing in Japanese macaques, we present a systematic multi-group comparison of the frequency and prevalence of this behavior as well as detailed descriptions and quantitative data on the form, context, and possible social transmission of stone-throwing. Stone-throws were mainly underarm, performed from a tripedal posture, and often accompanied by repeated vertical leaps. We found marked individual hand preferences for throwing, but no consistent group-level handedness. Our results support the hypotheses relating body posture, throwing style, and handedness in throwing by primates. Based on the analysis of the contexts that may elicit the behavior, we postulate that unaimed stone-throwing in Japanese macaques may serve to augment the effect of agonistic displays, and accordingly, can be regarded as spontaneous tool-use. Our findings are consistent with the comparative data using modern non-human primate species to model the structural processes and functional aspects of throwing evolution in e...Continue Reading

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Jan 27, 2007·American Journal of Primatology·Jean-Baptiste LecaMichael A Huffman
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Oct 27, 2007·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Jean-Baptiste LecaMichael A Huffman

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Citations

Nov 23, 2011·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·William D HopkinsJennifer A Schaeffer
Feb 11, 2016·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Jean-Baptiste LecaMichael A Huffman
Mar 1, 2016·Scientific Reports·Hjalmar S KühlChristophe Boesch
Nov 26, 2009·Journal of Human Evolution·Jean-Baptiste LecaMichael A Huffman
Dec 3, 2014·Journal of Human Evolution·Neil T Roach, Brian G Richmond
Dec 19, 2019·Biology Letters·Ammie K KalanMitsuko Aramaki

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