Figure 1. Fecal cortisol metabolite levels of free ranging diurnal A. russatus and nocturnal A. cahirinus, and of diurnal A. russatus in A. russatus enclosures during full moon and new moon nights and the following days (free ranging diurnal A. russatus new moon n = 19, full moon n = 12; free ranging nocturnal A. cahirinus new moon n = 18, full moon n = 22; A. russatus enclosures diurnal A. russatus new moon n = 9, full moon n = 8. *** p<0.001).

Moon phase influenced fecal cortisol metabolite levels in both free ranging diurnal A. russatus and nocturnal A. cahirinus. In both, fecal cortisol metabolite levels were significantly higher in full moon nights than during new moon nights. A similar pattern was found in A. russatus in the A. russatus enclosures, where they are active both during the day and during the nights.