Factors affecting proximity among members of a wild group of moor macaques during feeding, moving, and resting

We studied the effects of kinship, age, sex, and other factors on patterns of spatial proximity among group members in a wild group of moor macaques (Macaca maurus) in Sulawesi, Indonesia. We assessed the importance of each factor via multiple linear regression analyses. Moor macaques stay close to their matrilineal relatives more frequently when the group moves or rests than when they feed. Subjects of similar age, sex, or rank tended to stay close to each other. Females were in the proximity of females with newborn infants regardless of the phase of activity of the group. Kinship may have less effect on proximity during feeding in moor macaques than in Japanese macaques. Weak effects of kinship during feeding may result from weak contest competition for food within the group.