Cathemerality

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This volume brings together, for the first time, the latest knowledge from the field and laboratory on cathemerality, the rarest activity rhythm observed in non-human primates. Cathemerality, where activity takes place during both the day and night, is common in diverse orders of mammals, but among extant primates has been observed only in the lemurs of Madagascar and populations of South American owl monkeys. To reach a deeper understanding of this activity rhythm, contributors to this special issue of Folia Primatologica examine cathemerality from a wide array of perspectives, including chronobiology, behavioural ecology, visual anatomy, physiology and evolutionary anthropology. The adaptive significance of different activity rhythms is compared and contrasted among primates and other animals so that cathemerality is placed in the broader context of mammalian activity. By taking a comprehensive approach to the topic this volume not only provides the reader with the most current findings on cathemeral behaviour in primates but also illuminates potential areas of future research.