Potential self-medication by brown titi monkeys, , in an urban fragment forest in the Brazilian Amazon.

In this study, we report fur-rubbing behavior of brown titi monkeys, using chewed leaves from (Fabaceae) and (Piperaceae). These reports were obtained during systematic monitoring of titi monkeys from May until December 2019 (218 h) in an urban fragment forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Both plant species contain chemical substances in their leaves that potentially repel ectoparasites. The genus is known for its repelling action due to the presence of amides, alkaloids and benzoic acid. The presence of dogs, cats and human settlements may contribute to an increase of ectoparasites, making a potential self-medication function of fur rubbing in this primate species plausible.