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The effect of colour vision status on the detection and selection of fruits by tamarins (Saguinus spp.)

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posted on 2023-06-08, 08:42 authored by Andrew C Smith, Hannah M Buchanan-Smith, Alison K Surridge, Daniel Colaco OsorioDaniel Colaco Osorio, Nicholas I Mundy
The evolution of trichromatic colour vision by the majority of anthropoid primates has been linked to the efficient detection and selection of food, particularly ripe fruits among leaves in dappled light. Modelling of visual signals has shown that trichromats should be more efficient than dichromats at distinguishing both fruits from leaves and ripe from unripe fruits. This prediction is tested in a controlled captive setting using stimuli recreated from those actually encountered by wild tamarins (Saguinus spp.). Dietary data and reflectance spectra of Abuta fluminum fruits eaten by wild saddleback (Saguinus fuscicollis) and moustached (Saguinus mystax) tamarins and their associated leaves were collected in Peru. A. fluminum leaves, and fruits in three stages of ripeness, were reproduced and presented to captive saddleback and red-bellied tamarins (Saguinus labiatus). Trichromats were quicker to learn the task and were more efficient at selecting ripe fruits than were dichromats. This is the first time that a trichromatic foraging advantage has been demonstrated for monkeys using naturalistic stimuli with the same chromatic properties as those encountered by wild animals

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Experimental Biology

ISSN

0022-0949

Publisher

Company of Biologists

Volume

206

Page range

3159-3165

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-08-02

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-08-02

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