Genetic and behavioural repertoires support olfactory communication in wild capuchin monkeys
- 1Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada
Abstract
Olfaction is a key sense for many mammals, but its role in the social lives of anthropoid primates (monkeys, apes, humans) is poorly understood. Studies of chemosensory receptor genes and olfactory behaviours can provide insight into the evolution and function of olfaction across social contexts. Vomeronasal receptor (VR) genes are especially relevant to social behaviour as they are specialized for the detection of pheromones and other cues involved in social signaling, reproductive behaviour, and individual recognition in mammals. Here, we examined the population genetics and gene repertoires of VR genes in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) from Costa Rica and Panama using DNA sourced through both host tissues and through noninvasive fluorescence-activated cell sorting of fecal samples (fecalFACS). We compared VR diversity relative to putatively neutral reference loci (NRs) to investigate evidence of selection and potential effects of demography. To complement the genetic analysis, we also conducted a detailed observational study of capuchin olfactory behaviours. Combined, we find evidence of intact VRs subject to evolutionary constraint in capuchins, providing novel evidence that members of this gene family are maintained by evolutionary constraint in wild monkeys. We further document a rich and varied ethogram of olfactory behaviours that have clear potential for communication. Overall, our study provides compelling evidence for a role of olfaction in the complex social lives of capuchin monkeys, motivating future research on the contributions of olfaction to social communication and evolution in primates and other mammals.
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BibTeX
@misc{akhtar2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic and behavioural repertoires support olfactory communication in wild capuchin monkeys}},
author = {M. S. Akhtar and N. K. . Kulick and A. C. Poirier and H. Hamou and C. F. Galan-Plana and S. Romero Morales and S. Cheves Hernandez and G. W. Benson and C. Chaves-Cordero and R. Hernandez-Rojas and V. Villero and M. Crofoot and T. Bergman and J. D. Orkin and B. J. Barrett and J. Tung and K. M. Jack and A. D. Melin},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.08.750240},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.750240v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Genetic and behavioural repertoires support olfactory communication in wild capuchin monkeys
AU - M. S. Akhtar
AU - N. K. . Kulick
AU - A. C. Poirier
AU - H. Hamou
AU - C. F. Galan-Plana
AU - S. Romero Morales
AU - S. Cheves Hernandez
AU - G. W. Benson
AU - C. Chaves-Cordero
AU - R. Hernandez-Rojas
AU - V. Villero
AU - M. Crofoot
AU - T. Bergman
AU - J. D. Orkin
AU - B. J. Barrett
AU - J. Tung
AU - K. M. Jack
AU - A. D. Melin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.08.750240
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.750240v1
AB - Olfaction is a key sense for many mammals, but its role in the social lives of anthropoid primates (monkeys, apes, humans) is poorly understood. Studies of chemosensory receptor genes and olfactory behaviours can provide insight into the evolution and function of olfaction across social contexts. Vomeronasal receptor (VR) genes are especially relevant to social behaviour as they are specialized for the detection of pheromones and other cues involved in social signaling, reproductive behaviour, and individual recognition in mammals. Here, we examined the population genetics and gene repertoires of VR genes in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) from Costa Rica and Panama using DNA sourced through both host tissues and through noninvasive fluorescence-activated cell sorting of fecal samples (fecalFACS). We compared VR diversity relative to putatively neutral reference loci (NRs) to investigate evidence of selection and potential effects of demography. To complement the genetic analysis, we also conducted a detailed observational study of capuchin olfactory behaviours. Combined, we find evidence of intact VRs subject to evolutionary constraint in capuchins, providing novel evidence that members of this gene family are maintained by evolutionary constraint in wild monkeys. We further document a rich and varied ethogram of olfactory behaviours that have clear potential for communication. Overall, our study provides compelling evidence for a role of olfaction in the complex social lives of capuchin monkeys, motivating future research on the contributions of olfaction to social communication and evolution in primates and other mammals.
ER -