Ethogram, PAE coding system, and behavioral rhythm of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys

doi:10.17520/biods.2025133

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Research on the behavior of captive animals has significant scientific value for improving animal welfare, optimizing management strategies, guiding conservation breeding of endangered species, and revealing mechanisms of environmental adaptation. Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana), a first-class nationally protected species in China, currently lack systematic behavioral studies across age groups based on individual identification. This research provides a theoretical basis for improving environmental enrichment, enclosure infrastructure, and food supply for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys.

Methods: From October 2022 to December 2023, we observed and recorded the behavior of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys at the Guizhou Forest and Wildlife Park. Based on the current population status of this species in captivity, we systematically documented behavioral expressions of target individuals, established an ethogram for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys, and used the PAE (posture-act-environment) coding system to classify and code the observed behaviors. Behavioral diagrams were constructed, and the time allocation patterns and behavioral rhythms of the monkeys were analyzed.

Results: The constructed PAE ethogram included 20 postures, 99 actions, and 69 distinct behaviors. These were classified into 11 categories: foraging, feeding, intimacy, thermoregulation, rest, movement, abnormal behaviors, reproduction, parenting, mating, and others. The daily activity distribution and rhythms of monkeys of different ages showed resting as the dominant activity, followed by movement, feeding, grooming, play, and aggression. Significant age-related differences were observed: adults rested more frequently, whereas juveniles engaged more often in movement, feeding, and play. During feeding peaks, resting decreased while movement increased. Outside feeding peaks, movement declined before noon, rose again until the second feeding peak, then declined. Grooming and play peaked around midday, while aggression and other behaviors remained relatively stable.

Conclusion: This study systematically documented the daytime behavior of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys, established a standardized classification system based on the PAE coding framework, and analyzed time allocation and behavioral rhythms. The findings indicate that the monkeys’ activity patterns align with the species’ typical energy-saving strategy while also reflecting adaptive adjustments to artificial feeding regimes. The PAE coding system developed here offers a quantifiable, repeatable method for behavioral research in captive primates, enhancing objectivity and comparability in ethological studies. These results provide a scientific basis for optimizing management practices for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys and lay the groundwork for welfare assessment and future behavioral ecology studies of wild populations.

Key words: golden snub-nosed monkey, ethogram, PAE coding system, time allocation, activity rhythm

Huaiying Luo, Chao Zhang, Changjiang Qian, Jianfeng Li, Boxing Cheng, Yong He, Yue Sun. Ethogram, PAE coding system, and behavioral rhythm of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(10): 25133.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025133

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I10/25133

Figures/Tables 6

References 29

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个体 Individual	笼舍 Cage	年龄 Age (year)	性别 Gender	社会关系 Social relations
大王 Dawang	A	> 3	雄性 Male	主雄性 Alpha male
西西 Xixi	A	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
叮当妈妈 Dingdang mom	A	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
小23 Xiao 23	A	0.5-1	雌性 Female	叮当妈妈的幼崽 Dingdang mom’s cub
叮当 Dingdang	B	> 3	雄性 Male	主雄性 Alpha male
黑手背 Heishoubei	B	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
花手背 Huashoubei	B	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
花花 Huahua	B	1-2	雄性 Male	花手背的幼崽 Huashoubei’s cub
桃桃 Taotao	B	1-2	雌性 Female	黑手背的幼崽 Heishoubei’s cub

个体 Individual	笼舍 Cage	年龄 Age (year)	性别 Gender	社会关系 Social relations
大王 Dawang	A	> 3	雄性 Male	主雄性 Alpha male
西西 Xixi	A	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
叮当妈妈 Dingdang mom	A	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
小23 Xiao 23	A	0.5-1	雌性 Female	叮当妈妈的幼崽 Dingdang mom’s cub
叮当 Dingdang	B	> 3	雄性 Male	主雄性 Alpha male
黑手背 Heishoubei	B	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
花手背 Huashoubei	B	> 3	雌性 Female	大王配偶 Spouse of Dawang
花花 Huahua	B	1-2	雄性 Male	花手背的幼崽 Huashoubei’s cub
桃桃 Taotao	B	1-2	雌性 Female	黑手背的幼崽 Heishoubei’s cub

编码 Code	姿势 Posture	编码 Code	姿势 Posture
1	站 Standing	11	悬挂 Hanging
2	立 Rearing	12	爬跨 Mounting
3	走 Walking	13	匍匐 Crawling
4	爬(攀爬) Climbing	14	臂摆荡 Brachiation
5	坐 Sitting	15	携挂 Carrying
6	跑 Running	16	蹲 Squatting
7	趴 Groveling	17	环抚 Circular stroking
8	跳 Jumping	18	上身展体 Body stretching
9	躺 Lying	19	蜷缩 Crouching
10	抱 Cradling	20	拉尾 Tail pulling

编码 Code	姿势 Posture	编码 Code	姿势 Posture
1	站 Standing	11	悬挂 Hanging
2	立 Rearing	12	爬跨 Mounting
3	走 Walking	13	匍匐 Crawling
4	爬(攀爬) Climbing	14	臂摆荡 Brachiation
5	坐 Sitting	15	携挂 Carrying
6	跑 Running	16	蹲 Squatting
7	趴 Groveling	17	环抚 Circular stroking
8	跳 Jumping	18	上身展体 Body stretching
9	躺 Lying	19	蜷缩 Crouching
10	抱 Cradling	20	拉尾 Tail pulling

部位 Part	编码 Code	动作 Act	部位 Part	编码 Code	动作 Act
头颈部 Head and neck			四肢 Arms and legs
	1	摇头 Shake head		50	按 Press
	2	晃头 Dazzle head		51	抓 Grasp
	3	上抬 Raise head		52	握 Hold
	4	下低 Lower head		53	理毛 Groom
	5	摆头 Swing		54	扒 Strip
	6	左转 Turn left		55	拉 Haul
	7	右转 Turn right		56	抱 Embrace
	8	前倾 Extend forward		57	拍 Slapping
	9	缩头 Shrink head		58	四肢站立 Standing
	10	蹭 Scrape		59	后肢站立 Hindlegs stand
	11	甩头 Throw head		60	摸 Touch
眼耳鼻部 Eyes, ears and nose				61	前迈步 Step forward
	12	闭眼 Close eyes		62	侧迈步 Side diagonally
	13	眨眼 Blink		63	跳 Jump
	14	注视 Watch		64	单前肢弯曲 A foreleg bends
	15	眺望 Overlook		65	单前肢伸展 A foreleg straightens
	16	出气 Exhale		66	前肢弯曲 Forelegs bent
	17	吸气 Inhale		67	打 Impact
	18	嗅 Sniff		68	搓 Rub
腰腹部 Waist and abdomen				69	前肢伸展 Forelegs straight
	19	抖 Shiver		70	单后肢弯曲 A hindleg bends
	20	塌腰 Cave		71	单后肢伸展 A hindleg straightens
	21	弯腰 Bend		72	后肢弯曲 Hindlegs bent
	22	平腰 Plane		73	后肢伸展 Hindlegs straight
	23	弓背 Hunch back		74	前肢抬起 Forelegs raise
	24	左转身 Turn left		75	后肢抬起 Hindlegs raise
	25	右转身 Turn right		76	掀 Uncover
	26	排粪 Defecate		77	踩 Stamp
	27	排尿 Urinate		78	扶 Lean
	28	抬尾 Tail shake		79	揪 Drag
	29	翘尾 Tail raised		80	捏 Pinch
	30	展腰 Stretch		81	抱头 Embrace head
嘴部 Mouth				82	挖 Dig
	31	啃 Gnaw		83	荡 Wander
	32	嚼 Chew		84	勃起 Erect
	33	舔 Lick		85	插入 Insert
	34	咬 Bite		86	射精 Ejaculate
	35	撕 Rip		87	停顿 Pause
	36	衔 Hold in mouth		88	退下 Withdraw
	37	张嘴 Open mouth		89	抽动 Vellicate
	38	露齿 Showing teeth		90	丢 Throw
	39	吞咽 Swallow		91	蹬腿 Drive leg
	40	闭嘴 Close mouth		92	摇 Shake
	41	呵欠 Yawn		93	摘 Pluck
	42	扯 Pull		94	扣 Buckle
	43	喷气 Blow		95	触 Touch
	44	伸舌 Tongue out		96	接住 Catch
	45	嚎叫 Howl		97	揉 Knead
	46	吼叫 Roar		98	揽 Pull into arms
	47	牙齿发颤 Teeth chattering		99	挠 Scratch
	48	吐 Vomit
	49	喝 Drink