Frequent harassment of mounting after a takeover of a group of moor macaques (Macaca maurus)

Harassment behaviour during mounting was oserverd in a group of moor macaques (Macaca maurus) in Sulawesi, Indonesia. During the study periods in 1994 and 1995, most harassment was performed by juveniles less than 5 years old. No harassment by adult females was observed. Mounting by the α-male, who had newly immigrated to the group, was harassed more frequently than that by the β-male in 1994. In 1995, the frequency of harassment during mounting by the α-male was low as compared with that in 1994. In the case of the new α-male, harassment occurred more frequently during mounting with sexually tumescent females than during mounting with detumescent females. Harassment was rarely observed during mounting by natal males of the group. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain harssment of mounting in primates. The present offer support for the following two hypotheses: (I) harassment is an attempt to establish a social bond between the performer and the mounting individuals; or (2) harassment occurs in response to mounting by unfamiliar males.