ABSTRACT
Unfortunately, few studies have so far examined the gestural communication of monkeys in detail. Moreover, it remains unclear whether nonhuman primate gestural communication is really more elaborate than their vocal communication. The range of studies on apes presented in this book demonstrates that the gestural communication of great apes as well as small apes shows flexibility according to the characteristics outlined earlier. To examine the flexibility of signal usage, the authors investigate context-related differences in gesture usage, and signal combinations. Finally, they aim to identify some of the differences between monkeys and apes. Mehlman examined the branch shaking behavior in Barbary macaques with respect to the common interpretation that it is an aggressive or defensive signal used to maintain or increase the distance between different social groups. About 130 Barbary macaques live here under semifree conditions in three social groups. In the long run, however, it is essential to study both the vocal and gestural communication in concert.
