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Wild Blonde Capuchins (Sapajus flavius) Perform Anointing Behaviour Using Toxic Secretions of a Millipede (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae)

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Abstract

Defensive secretions of millipedes are remarkable for containing toxic quinones known to efficiently repell hematophagous arthropods. Here we show that Endangered blonde capuchin monkeys make use of such secretions. We (i) describe the anointing behavior performed by the monkeys (ii) identify the millipede species used in the process (iii) describe the volatile chemical composition of its secretion. The blonde capuchin monkeys selectively searched for millipedes hidden under the ground. We observed three bouts of anointing behavior, performed by 13 individuals of all age classes (from adults to independent infants), both solitarily (1 event) and socially (10 events). The only millipede species used by the monkeys is an undescribed species of the genus Poecilocricus (Spirobolida, Rhinocricidae). The volatile chemical composition of the secretions was predominantly comprised of a mixture of benzoquinones and hydroquinones. The social nature of the behavior and time of the observations (mosquito season), suggest that social bonding and mosquito avoidance is linked to the anointing behavior of the monkeys.

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Acknowledgements

This study is a new contribution from the long-term blonde capuchin monkey research conservation project (Projeto Galego). We conducted the study under permit # 25727-1 MMA, ICMBio, SISBIO to Bruna Bezerra. We are thankful to Tronox Pigmentos do Brasil SA, Geraldo Moraes and Virgílio Pinto for essential logistical support in the study site. We also thank Rodrigo Costa, Severino Ramos, João Maria, Cristiano Lira and Antonio Pedro for essential field assistance. MB, KM and RFF were funded by FACEPE (Pernambuco Foundation to Support Science and Technology) scholarships while connected to the Projeto Galego (IBPG-0544-2.05/13, IBPG-0225-2.04/15, IBPG-1236-2.05/16) and CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher-level Education Personnel). AC was funded by CNPq (The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) and CAPES, and AM was funded through CAPES (PNPD Postdoctoral fund) and FACEPE (BCT-0057-2.05/17). The Projeto Galego has so far been supported by Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Rufford Foundation, FACEPE (BFT-0160-2.04/17; APQ-1534-2.04/10, APQ-0143-2.04/14; BFT-01602.04/17; BFT-0014-2.05/20) and CNPq (Universal 445071/2014-1). BB is supported by a CNPq-Productivity grant (Pq2 309256/2019-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Karolina Medeiros, Anielise Campêlo, Robério Freire Filho, Monique Bastos & Bruna Bezerra

  2. Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil

    Artur Campos D. Maia

  3. Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Daniela Maria Do Amaral Ferraz Navarro

  4. Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil

    Amazonas Chagas Jr

  5. School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Gareth Jones

  6. Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50670-420, Brazil

    Bruna Bezerra

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  1. Karolina Medeiros
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Correspondence to Bruna Bezerra.

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Medeiros, K., Campêlo, A., Maia, A.C.D. et al. Wild Blonde Capuchins (Sapajus flavius) Perform Anointing Behaviour Using Toxic Secretions of a Millipede (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae). J Chem Ecol 46, 1010–1015 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01215-0

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