Wiper Susan M, Semple Stuart
Centre for Research in Evolutionary Anthropology, Roehampton University, London, United Kingdom.
Am J Primatol. 2007 Oct;69(10):1179-88. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20434.
Teeth chattering is seen in many primate species and has been proposed to have a range of social functions. This observational study tested specific hypotheses relating to the function of teeth chattering in a semi-free-ranging group of Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus. During focal watches of males, the outcome of male-male dyadic social interactions in which teeth chattering was present or absent was compared. Using these data, we tested the predictions of four hypotheses: teeth chattering functions as a signal of submission, appeasement, affiliation or reassurance. Support was found for all four hypotheses. In addition, in some contexts, an exchange of teeth chattering appeared to have a greater impact on the outcome of interactions than one male alone giving this signal. These findings suggest that teeth chattering serves an important role in coordinating the social interactions of male Barbary macaques.
在许多灵长类物种中都能观察到牙齿打颤现象，并且有人提出它具有一系列社会功能。这项观察性研究检验了与巴巴利猕猴（Macaca sylvanus）半散养群体中牙齿打颤功能相关的特定假设。在对雄性猕猴的重点观察期间，比较了存在或不存在牙齿打颤的雄性二元社会互动的结果。利用这些数据，我们检验了四个假设的预测：牙齿打颤起到屈服、安抚、亲和或安心信号的作用。所有四个假设都得到了支持。此外，在某些情况下，牙齿打颤的相互交流似乎比单独一只雄性发出这个信号对互动结果的影响更大。这些发现表明，牙齿打颤在协调雄性巴巴利猕猴的社会互动中起着重要作用。
