Hayes S L
Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Lab Anim Sci. 1990 Sep;40(5):515-9.
Capuchin monkeys often employ complex manipulative skills while recovering food items. Five captive Cebus capucinus were presented with two identical feeders that required the monkeys to lift up flaps, search through hay, and perform coordinated hand movements in order to obtain food items. The intent of this study was not to merely increase the amount of time the animals spent feeding, but to provide opportunities for greater expression of species-typical foraging behavior. In addition to their regular diet, figs and various types of unshelled nuts were placed inside the feeders. The monkeys avidly searched for and removed food from the feeders, displaying a wide variety of manipulative abilities. The amount of time the animals spent foraging significantly increased (p less than 0.05) whereas the amount of time the animals spent locomoting and resting significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) when the feeders were available. The feeders were portable, durable, easy to clean, and relatively inexpensive.
卷尾猴在获取食物时常常运用复杂的操作技能。给五只圈养的白领卷尾猴提供了两个相同的喂食器，猴子需要掀起盖子，在干草中翻找，并进行协调的手部动作才能获取食物。这项研究的目的不仅仅是增加动物进食的时间，而是为更充分地展现物种典型的觅食行为提供机会。除了常规饮食外，还在喂食器中放入了无花果和各种带壳坚果。猴子们热切地从喂食器中寻找并取出食物，展现出了各种各样的操作能力。当有喂食器时，动物觅食所花费的时间显著增加（p小于0.05），而活动和休息所花费的时间则显著减少（p小于0.05）。这些喂食器便于携带、耐用、易于清洁且相对便宜。
