Predator-prey interactions are usually regarded as evolutionary “arms races”, but evidence is still scarce. We examined whether the anti-predation strategies of red colobus monkeys (Procolobus badius) are adapted to the hunting strategies of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. Taï chimpanzees search for red colobus groups, approach them silently and hunt co-operatively. Our playback experiments and observations of natural encounters revealed that red colobus hid higher up the trees in positions where exposure to the forest floor is minimal and became silent, when chimpanzees were close. They moved away silently through the canopy, when chimpanzees were still at some distance. However, if a group of diana monkeys was nearby in the latter situation, red colobus sought their presence even if they had to move towards the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees refrained from hunting associated red colobus groups, probably because diana monkeys are excellent sentinels for predators approaching over the forest floor. Thus several elements of both the predator's and the prey's strategies correspond to each other. Finally, we compared the interactions between the two species in Taï and in Gombe, Tanzania. We suggest that the difference in size ratio between the two species at the two sites and adaptation of hunting techniques and of escape modes to different forest structures can explain why Gombe red colobus attack chimpanzees while Taï red colobus try to escape. We conclude that predator-prey interactions can indeed lead to evolutionary arms races, with the specific form of co-adaptations depending on environmental factors.
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Similar content being viewed by others Explore related subjectsDiscover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning. Author information Authors and AffiliationsMax-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Abteilung Wickler, Seewiesen, D-82319 Starnberg, Germany Tel.: 49-8157-932-270; Fax: 49-8157-932-209; e-mail: bshary@mpi-seewiesen.mpg.de, , , , , , DE
Redouan Bshary & Ronald Noë
Received: 19 July 1996 / Accepted after revision: 20 July 1997
About this article Cite this articleBshary, R., Noë, R. Anti-predation behaviour of red colobus monkeys in the presence of chimpanzees. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 41, 321–333 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650050392
Issue Date: November 1997
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650050392
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