Deceptive Signals in white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus in Fusui, China (In English)

摘要

We carried out a study on the conservation biology of white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus (Order Primates) from September 1997-September 1998 in Fusui Precious Animal Reserve, SW Guangxi , China , in an attempt to assess negative impacts of habitat degradation on the survival of the langurs. We collected behavioral data using systematic techniques and recorded rare behaviors ad libitum. Langur groups in high quality habitat had well-defended home ranges and those in low quality habitat did not defend their ranges intensively. Breeding males that were driven out of their groups during group takeovers became solitary and lost ranges. They were faced with food shortage due to poor habitat. Our observations showed that these langurs used deceptive signals to keep intergroup distance, by which they could live in habitat with food resource. This is inconsistent with Zahavi’s theory that predicts deceptive signals cannot be evolved, because recipients always check signalers during communication [ A cta Zoologica Sinica 51(2): 335 - 337, 2005].