Fish-Hunting by Wild Japanese Macaques in Riverine Environments: Behavioral and Demographic Patterns with Implications for Sex-Invariant Foraging in Early Hominins

Ayaka Tsuchihashi; Takuya Matsumoto; Ema Nagahara; Kosuke Hayashi; Genki Yamada; Takayuki Ogura; Mone Ito; Shohei Isokado; Koji Tojo; Masaki Takenaka

doi:10.51094/jxiv.1275

##article.authors##

Ayaka Tsuchihashi Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University
Takuya Matsumoto Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1363-9455
Ema Nagahara Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University
Kosuke Hayashi NHK Enterprises, Inc.
Genki Yamada G-Vision, Inc.
Takayuki Ogura Kozo Production
Mone Ito Kozo production
Shohei Isokado ACCEL24 ltd.
Koji Tojo Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University
Masaki Takenaka Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51094/jxiv.1275

キーワード:

mountain ecology、 hunting、 primatology、 Japanese macaques、 human evolution、 sex differences

抄録

Fish-hunting, rare among nonhuman primates, has been hypothesized to markedly influence hominin evolution. We report 71 cases of fish-hunting by wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inhabiting a subalpine riverine environment. Behavioral sequences were categorized into the exploration, attempt, and processing phases. All events were solitary and tool-free. No behavioral evidence indicated the facilitation of successful fish catching by conspecific presence. Most preyed fish were salmonids, and nearly all were fully consumed. Significant sex differences in fish-hunting frequency were not observed, and certain juveniles also engaged in fish catching. The absence of visible bone remains in fecal samples with confirmed fish DNA suggests that tool-free fish consumption leaves limited archaeological traces. These findings provide novel comparative data on primate aquatic foraging and suggest the feasibility of solitary, non-tool-assisted fish-hunting under certain ecological conditions, offering new perspectives on early hominin subsistence strategies.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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