Although females are usually strongly selected to care for infants, they are not always the only, or even the primary, caretaker in primate societies. This site introduces you to a set of primate species and information about their caretaking. Visit these locations and read about the reproductive and caretaking systems of each of these primates. How are they similar? How are they different? What might these similarities and differences reflect?

Compare the parental care and reproduction sections for each of the following primates. Then answer the questions.

Owl Monkey (neotropical primate)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/owl_monkey

Cotton-top tamarin (neotropical primate)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/cotton-top_tamarin/behav

Vervet Monkey (Old-World Monkey)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/vervet/behav

Long-Tailed Macaque (Old-World Monkey)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/long-tailed_macaque/behav

Gorilla (Ape)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/gorilla/behav

Orangutan (Ape)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/orangutan/behav

Ring-Tailed Lemur (prosimian)
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ring-tailed_lemur/behav

1			Are the mothers always the primary caretaker of infants in primate species? If not, what individuals also serve as primary caretakers?
2			Is the role of other group members besides mothers and fathers the same across species?
3			Is there any general relationship between group pattern and infant care pattern across the species you have studied?