This tape serves as a summary of the purpose and goals of the Chimpanzoo project, a 7-zoo study designed to systematically collect data on a number of groups of chimps using similar data collection results. These methods are elaborated upon, and an ethogram of chimpanzee behavior is given. Behaviors shown include: feeding, locomotion, self-grooming, social grooming, exploring the environment, aggression (display), tool use, play, signing and parental behaviour. Estrous swelling is also shown.
The Amazon River basin is one of the last great wetland frontiers with a vast variety of wildlife including over 2000 species of fish and 900 species of birds. Many primates dwell in this region including the rare white bald uakari (Cacajao calvus) seen feeding on fruit, and showing coloration of face and lack of tail; the howler monkey (Alouatta) seen feeding and climbing, and heard vocalizing; the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) seen hunting and eating a mantis; owl monkey (Aotus triviragtus) seen feeding on fruit and climbing and heard vocalizing; and the pygmy marmoset (Cebeulla pygmaea) seen feeding on an insect and chewing through tree bark to eat tree sap. Other animals shown include stringrays, river dolphins, sloth (seen swimming), varieties of fruit-eating fish, piranha, giant river turtles. Much of this program is also dedicated to showing the lives of the peasants who survive from the abundance of food provided by the Amazon River, and the interference of those who would upset the ecosystem of the Amazon through the development of farming land and construction of hydroelectric dams. Narrated by William Shatner and naturalist Michael Goulding.
Primates are defined by 10 criteria: generalized skeleton; highly mobile digits (and often an opposable thumb); tactile pads on the fingers; abbrevation of snout or muzzle (excepting the baboon); perfection of binocular vision; smell and other senses de-emphasized by sight; fewer teeth; increase in size and complexity of brain cortex; nourishment of fetus before birth; upright posture or bipedalism; and prolongation of infant dependency upon parents. New World monkets shown are the long-haired spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth); Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii); golden marmoset or lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) seen climbing and with a close-up of its hands; Humboldt's woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) seen eating leaves and using its prehensile tail; squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) at play, scratching and carrying infants; hooded capuchin or tufted capuchin (Cebus apella); howler (Alouatta villosa) seen eating; Night monkey or owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus); and red uakari (Cacajao calvis rubicundus)
How smart are animals? Filmmaker Greg Grainger examines the studies of animal intelligence across a range of different animals. These animals include: Shamu the killer whale, Alex the African gray parrot; sheepdogs and domestic dogs; dolphins (shown communicating with human through a gestural language and interacting with autistic children); elephants (discussing long-range memory); polar bears and leopards. Primates examined: pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea) with Dr. John Hearn of the WRPRC discussing how marmosets communicate; orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) shown playing with humans and using a feeder consisting of a false termite mound filled with peanut butter; and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) observed attempting to crack open a coconut, and extract termites from an artificial termite mound, with a discussion of culture in the chimpanzee society. In the leopard segment, agitated vervets are shown giving an alarm call vocalization.
This children's video looks at the rain forests of Central and South America. Animals are classified by the area of the forest they live in -- floor, midlayer, or canopy. Floor animals include the jaguar, tarantula, coati, piranha, tapir, leaf-cutter ant, ocelot, basilisk lizard, pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) seen eating and mustached tamarin (Saguinus mystax). Midlayer animals include the leaf mantis, margay and bats. Canopy animals include the three-toed sloth, macaws and parrots, harpy eagle, hoatzin, water monkey, spider monkey (Ateles), howler monkey (Alouatta) heard vocalizing, and uakari (Cacajao calvus) seen leaping from branch to branch. Narrator Dudley Moore also discusses products we get from the rain forest and the potential consequences of rain forest destruction. Briefly mentioned is a rehabilitation project to reintroduce golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) back into the rain forests of Brazil.
This children's video addresses certain aspects of monkey and ape development. Some activities shown include: mountain gorilla (Gorilla g. beringei) making nest and playing; howler monkeys (Alouatta) giving warning vocalizations and jumping from branch to branch; gibbons (Hylobates) brachiating; langurs (Presbytis) playing, grooming, swimming and diving; Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) cleaning potatoes in water and sitting in hot springs; chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) using sticks and rocks to crack open nuts. Also seen are black and white colobus (Colobus abyssinicus) showing coloration of infant; orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), squirrel monkeys (Saimiri), a tarsier (Tarsius), baboons (Papio), vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythus), hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas), emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator), uakari (Cacajao calvus), marmosets (Callithrix), spider monkeys (Ateles) and proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Deforestation is discussed in relation to its effect on primate habitats. A short quiz concludes the program.
Captive Callithrix jacchus at the WRPRC are seen climbing, playing, running, engaging in sexual behavior (mounting and copulating), and carrying infant on back.
Marc van Roosmalen searches for a new species of marmoset, the golden white tassel ear marmoset in the Amazon jungle. The marmosets are seen foraging for fruit, eating insects and tree sap, parenting, grooming, and facing predators such as the boa constrictor and giant tarantula.
Text and design by Kara Lascola.
Development of this web page was supported by a grant from the Wisconsin Advanced Telecommunications Foundation, the University of Wisconsin (Extension & Systems), and grants number RR00167 and number RR15311, National Primate Centers Program, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
URL: http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/marmoset/calbib.html
Page last modified:
May 2, 2002
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