Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, has been awarded a grant from the National Geographic Society and has been recommended for funding by the National Science Foundation for the study of the first two sets of twins ever born in the owl monkey population of Argentina after more than 250 births recorded over 15 years. Owl monkeys live in socially monogamous groups in which the father and the mother cooperate intensively in infant care. In fact, fathers play, groom, share food and transport the infants more than mothers do. This once in a lifetime opportunity is invaluable for documenting behavioral mechanisms associated with parental care and monogamy that are not usually manifested in the functioning of “single birth” groups. Results from the study will contribute to the evaluation of hypotheses about the evolution of alloparental care, monogamy, and pair-bonds in human and non-human primates.
Read more here, or on the Owl Monkey Project official website.

The project was also featured in a special Valentine's Day segment for National Geographic Radio. Click here to listen to the interview with Dr. Fernandez-Duque.