Seasonal Anointment with Millipedes in a Wild Primate: A Chemical Defense Against Insects?
Seasonal Anointment with Millipedes in a Wild Primate: A Chemical Defense Against Insects?
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野生灵长类动物中的千足虫季节性涂油：针对昆虫的化学防御？
DOI：
10.1023/a:1026489826714
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发表时间：
2000
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
T. Eisner
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
X. Valderrama;John G. Robinson;A. Attygalle;T. Eisner
一群野生的楔形帽卷尾猴（Cebus olivaceus）故意用千足虫（Orthoporus dorsovittatus）涂抹自己。化学分析显示，这些千足虫分泌两种苯醌，这种化合物对昆虫有很强的驱避作用。我们认为，在涂油过程中，猴子身上的分泌物可以保护它们免受昆虫的侵害，特别是在雨季，蚊子（以及它们传播的蝇类）。马陆的分泌物是猴子们非常渴望的，以至于四只猴子会共用一只马陆。这种药膏也一定有风险，因为苯醌是有毒和致癌的。我们认为，对于卷尾猴来说，膏油的直接好处超过了长期成本。
Members of a wild group of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) intentionally anoint themselves with millipedes (Orthoporus dorsovittatus). Chemical analysis revealed these millipedes secrete two benzoquinones, compounds known to be potently repellent to insects. We argue that the secretion that rubs off on the monkeys in the course of anointment provides protection against insects, particularly mosquitoes (and the bot flies they transmit) during the rainy season. Millipede secretion is so avidly sought by the monkeys that up to four of them will share a single millipede. The anointment must also entail risks, since benzoquinones are toxic and carcinogenic. We suggest that for capuchins the immediate benefits of anointment outweigh the long-range costs.