STUDY THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS IN A UNIMALE BISEXUAL TROOP OF HANUMAN LANGURS (SEMNOPITHECUS ENTELLUS) AROUND JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN (INDIA)

摘要

Five infants of free-ranging Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) were observed during 2007-08 between and six months of age and followed-up studies conducted till they are weaned and entered into juvenile stage. The infant is capable to cling itsmother's belly from the day of birth. And its mother may easily move and jump without holding infant. The infant stage for this species is estimated to finish when the individual infant has sloped suckling (i.e. weaned), Is about 12-15 months old, and itreaches the juvenile stage. During the first developmental stage, the infant is carried by its mother, and when it is 3 months old, it starts to move independently. Juveniles and other females also carry the infants during usual group activities (allomothering). Wants acquire the necessary skills in searching and obtaining of its own food by means of individual play and when it is 6-7 months old, it can feed solid foods found by itself or along with its mother. There is a high frequency of play betweeninfants and juveniles of the groups.