Lesson 1: Monkey Identification

*Note: This post was written yesterday... Oh, and the photos are not always exactly representative of what I am describing. Sorry!*

Wow, today was our longest day, yet (on the island from 6:50am - 2:30pm). You have no idea how exhausting it can be to stay the extra three hours from 11:30 to 2:30, but man. Ouch. By 11:30 you are getting serious munchies, the sun is at its apogee, and the monkeys are few and far between, since they have all taken nature’s hint and hit the trees to nap. But, work is work, and if those hours mean a few more successful trials then away we go. I made up for the exertion by conking out instantly upon lying down, when we returned.

So, I think I will discuss some of the more amusing characteristics of a few of the monkeys today. This is mainly because I got some great photos of the standouts, but also because lately the only amusing tales to relate are ones of tangled ropes, falling into cameras, and being startled by curious juveniles, who pop out of trees right by your head. These tales will be forthcoming in the coming weeks, so I figure I’ll save these until a truly amazing one comes along.

There are a few notable characteristics that help us identify the monkeys: scars, spine problems, cuts, bruises, constant companions, coloring, missing appendages and facial features (lips, noses, ears, etc.). Sometimes, however, sheer ugliness is the defining feature. The most desirable Rhesus females are the fattest, saggiest females. This means that sometimes you will note an adorable Rhesus baby in a tree and watch as it scurries off to its mother, only to find your eyes settling on the most rotund, grumpy, and amusing looking mama-monkey you’ve ever seen. One female is so ugly, in fact, that our team has affectionately dubbed her Skeletor. She is monumentally large, has a very bony face, and is noseless. We have been trying to locate her for days on the island to run her for our experiments, but no such luck. She’ll resurface soon, though, and when she does, picture time. In all seriousness, though, she is really, truly, intensely ugly. (The monkey at left is a "cow," as they are called, but I call her Qian Po, à la Mulan.)

On a cuter note, some of the monkeys’ hair grows in such a way that some monkeys end up with mohawks. This can make for some seriously adorable juveniles and babies, since occasionally the babies have mini-hawks, and it makes them look very rebel-chic. Speaking of interesting and identifying hair characteristics, the island also have its “blonds.” In Rhesus monkeys, some individuals are actually born with golden hair. They stick out quite dramatically as babies, but as with human blonds, the hair appears to darken as they age. For those monkeys, who do not darken, it is very helpful to know that a monkey is a golden, if you luck into running one. Interestingly, though, most goldens appear to be more subordinate than other monkeys on the whole. I have not tested this, but according to all the researchers who have been here for a while, this is an observed trend. I have no clue why.

Lastly, some of the monkeys have freckles or at least what look like freckles. They appear like little brownish red spots all over some monkeys’ faces. These freckles, while not actually useful in identifying the monkeys, do give them some character. Unlike us, the monkeys do not receive their freckles from the sun. The freckles are actually remnants from Herpes B virus outbreaks, kind of like acne scars, so I suppose that in addition to character the freckles are also a great reminder to everyone to wash their hands and close their mouths.

Now I must head back to work, and by work I mean watching Ironman with my teammates. J So, for now do as we do on Cayo, and if you feel something dripping on your shoulder, keep your head down, your mouth shut, and just keep walking.

Much love, 

B