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Olfactory signals can communicate a wide variety of information and are very important in many mammalian species. However, little is known about the olfactory communication of primates. This study used gas chromatography to examine the volatile components of the anogenital gland secretions of wild Milne-Edward's sifaka, Propithecus edwardsi (Primates, Indriidae) (n = 17), captured in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. We compared scent swabs of animals and examined differences between social group, age class, sex, and season. The only identified differences in the volatiles were between swabs from the different seasons; all other categories were statistically indistinguishable. Am. J. Primatol. 68:1202–1207, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although prosimians are greatly olfaction-oriented, little is known about the specifics of how they use scent to communicate. In this preliminary study we attempted to delineate intra- and interspecific differences among the anogenital gland secretions of two lemur species (Lemur catta and Propithecus verreauxi coquereli) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results indicate that the two species are discernible through scent. Furthermore, we were able to identify reproductive status using this technique. The anogenital secretions of the different sexes in L. catta, though perhaps not P. v. coquereli, are chemically distinguishable. Given this information, it appears that at least some lemur species can use scent marks to determine species, sex, and reproductive status. Am J Primatol 63:49–62, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen dinucleotide microsatellite loci were isolated from the genome of Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi . All loci were polymorphic when genotyped on a minimum of 16 animals. The number of alleles across these loci ranges from two to 11. Additionally, seven of these loci were genotyped across a minimum of 200 animals in order to estimate heterozygosity and their potential for parentage assignment in this population. Using these seven loci, the mean heterozygosity in this population is 0.705, and the combined probability of these seven loci to exclude a random individual from parentage, when one parent is known, is 0.996. These data suggest that these loci will be useful for estimating a variety of population genetic and genealogical parameters in P. v. verreauxi populations. Am. J. Primatol. 55:253–259, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tight energetic constraints on reproductively active females are hypothesized to be an important determinant of the phenomenon of female dominance in Propithecus verreauxi, a primate endemic to Madagascar. Five wild sifakas were captured in the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in southern Madagascar, and resting metabolic rates (RMR) were measured. Levels were low, as predicted, with the exception of a possibly pregnant female. Although the data were not conclusive, they were consistent with the hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cytogenetical study of the western form of Avahi (Avahi laniger occidentalis) shows that its karyotype differs from that of A. laniger laniger by at least 3 chromosomal rearrangements. Meiotic chromosomal pairing of hypothetical hybrids has been constructed. Its configuration, a tetravalent with an inversion loop, is likely to strongly reduce fertility, especially in the male. This leads us to propose that the two forms correspond to two distinct species, separated by a gametic barrier: Avahi laniger and a species apart, Avahi occidentalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]