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Brief Report
Long-tailed macaques use human hair as dental floss
Article first published online: 25 JAN 2007
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20403
© 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
1098-2345/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=b93565ff67cdfeec6fb91a193f06d9644d52b789 "American Journal of Primatology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Watanabe, K., Urasopon, N. and Malaivijitnond, S. (2007), Long-tailed macaques use human hair as dental floss. Am. J. Primatol., 69: 940–944. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20403
Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 JUN 2007
- Article first published online: 25 JAN 2007
- Manuscript Accepted: 5 OCT 2006
- Manuscript Received: 22 JUN 2006
Funded by
- Kyoto University 21st Century COE Program (Formation of a Strategic Base for the Multidisciplinary Study of Biodiversity)
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- tool use;
- long-tailed macaque;
- dental floss;
- human hair;
- Lopburi
Abstract
Long-tailed macaques in Lopburi, Thailand, use human hair as if it were dental floss. This eccentric behavior is seen mainly in a large group of macaques that live at the old Buddhist shrine of Prang Sam Yot. Many monkeys of this group take hair and sort a few pieces to make a string and then brush their teeth by pulling it tightly with right and left hands alternatively between their teeth. This habit is not seen in the other localities near Lopburi and is rare even in the surrounding groups. Monkeys in the Prang Sam Yot shrine are worshipped as servants of God and people respect them, even when they ride on their heads. This behavior could be considered a newly occurring cultural behavior, which has become established under very specialized circumstances. Am. J. Primatol. 69:940–944, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.