Trigger of twin-fights in captive common marmosets
Abstract Common marmosets usually give birth to twins and form a social group consisting of a breeding couple and pairs of same-aged siblings. The twins may engage in the first agonistic fights between them, twin-fights (TFs), during adolescence. This study investigated the TFs based on records accumulated in our captive colony over 12 years to […]
Effects of training on stress-related behavior of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) in relation to coping with routine husbandry procedures
Using positive reinforcement, J. McKinley trained 12 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to provide urine samples on request. The study then exposed the marmosets to mildly stressful, routine husbandry procedures (i.e., capture and weighing). The nonhuman animals spent less time inactive poststressor as opposed to prestressor. L. Bassett collected matched behavioral data from 12 nontrained marmosets […]
Cage Use and Feeding Height Preferences of Captive Common Marmosets (Callithrix j. jacchus) in Two-Tier Cages
Determining appropriate feeding regimes has important welfare implications for cap-tive primates. This study examined the preference of food bowl heights in 6 pairs of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) housed in a 2-tier cage system. Given that marmosets are arboreal and spend most of their time in the upper half of their cages, we predicted that […]
Training Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to Cooperate During Routine Laboratory Procedures: Ease of Training and Time Investment
The first author trained 12 laboratory-housed common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in pairs to assess the practicality of positive reinforcement training as a technique in the management of these nonhuman animals. Behaviors taught were (a) target training to allow in homecage weighing and (b) providing urine samples. Between 2 to 13, 10-minute training sessions established desired […]
Understanding visual access in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus: perspective taking or behaviour reading?
We tested common marmosets’ understanding of visual access in a series of experiments. In experiment 1, we investigated whether marmosets know what conspecifics do and do not see, using a food competition paradigm originally developed for chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes. Subordinate marmosets consistently chose a piece of food only visible to them and not one that […]
Trade-offs between social learning and individual innovativeness in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus
Social learning and innovation are two different ways to acquire novel behaviours, and the form of the relationship between these two processes strongly affects cultural evolution. Whereas modelling results suggest a negative correlation between the two processes within a species, comparative data show, and the cultural intelligence hypothesis predicts, positive covariation across species. Thus, there […]
Hormonal changes related to paternal and alloparental care in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
The physiological mechanisms of parental and alloparental care in cooperatively breeding nonhuman primate species such as the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) are poorly known. In this study, we examined prolactin and cortisol plasma levels of fathers and older offspring of both sexes, with and without previous experience in infant carrying, around parturition and during infant […]
Factors affecting the successful pairing of unfamiliar common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) females: preliminary results
Laboratory primates are often housed in same-sex pairs to avoid single-housing and when breeding is to be prevented. However, pair formation is not without risks, as fights and injuries may occur. No data are available on pair formation in female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a species used extensively in laboratories. Therefore, this study focuses on […]
Cage sizes for tamarins in the laboratory
Provision of adequate space for captive animals is essential for good welfare. It affects not only their behaviour but also determines whether there is sufficient room for appropriate environmental enrichment. Most importantly, appropriate cage size permits captive animals to be housed in socially harmonious groups and to fulfil their reproductive potential. For animals used in […]
The Effects of Group Size and Reproductive Status on Vigilance in Captive Callithrix jacchus
Previous work on mammals and birds has often demonstrated a negative relationship between group size and individual vigilance. However, this relationship has received only weak support in nonhuman primates. This result may be due to the failure to distinguish different forms of vigilance such as antipredatory vigilance and social monitoring. Here, we tested the effects […]