Alpha Male: Quepos, Costa Rica

This Alpha Male was the "advance scout" for a troop of about 20 White Faced monkeys that would migrate past our house each morning. The group would not advance until the Alpha had given the "all clear" signal. This particular male was very direct in his scrutiny of us and seemed entirely displeased that we failed to share our Pineapple with him.
Alpha males have elaborate and socially complex relationships with subordinate males in their troops, setting up pseudocoalitions designed to break up pairs of affiliating males. The Alpha threatens one and simultaneously solicits aid from the other, thus preempting any chance of dominance emerging in these subordinates. The Alpha is also quite fickle in his preference for subordinates and is constantly shifting his favor from one to another.
Photo: Nikon D3, 200-400 f4 lens