Pathology of captive moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax)

The pathology of 33 moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) previously used in hepatitis A and GB virus studies is reported. Chronic lesions in colon, heart, and kidney were common in the monkeys and appeared not to be due to the experimental exposures. Colitis cystica profunda (CCP), a disease that affects humans and is characterized by the presence of mucin-filled epithelial downgrowths and cysts in the colonic submucosa, was found in 24 of the 33 (72.7%) tamarins. Interstitial myocardial fibrosis was present in 22 (66.6%) animals, and various degrees of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis occurred in 28 (84.8%) monkeys. In addition, 28 (84.8%) tamarins demonstrated diffuse hepatocellular vacuolation with mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, possibly as a result of the experimental infections, and peliosis hepatis occurred in 7 (21.2%) animals. The etiology of CCP is unknown, and no reliable animal models are available because most cases in animals are reported only sporadically. Myocardial fibrosis in tamarins has not been reported previously, and all current animal models require experimental manipulation of the animal to mimic the human disease. The results from this study suggest that captive S. mystax has high incidence of spontaneous CCP, myocardial fibrosis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. This species may be a spontaneous animal model for pathogenesis and experimental therapy studies of the analogous human diseases.     

Vertebrate predation by sympatric tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis

Vertebrate predation was examined in sympatric moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) and saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) in the Amazon rainforest of northeastern Peru. Both species prey on frogs and lizards, and very rarely on nestling birds. As a result of divergent foraging strategies, S. mystax primarily exploited frogs at higher strata of the forest, while S. fuscicollis predominantly preyed on reptiles in the lower strata and on the ground. This difference may strengthen the niche differentiation between these two tamarin species that exists with regard to other prey.     

Troop-specific responses to long calls of isolated tamarins (Saguinus mystax)

Recently captured moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) were briefly separated from other members of their troop. Most separated animals emitted long calls that were, in general, similar in acoustic structure to those of sympatric tamarin species while retaining species distinctiveness. Individual differences also appeared in call structure. The long calls of a separated animal were responded to almost entirely by members of the animal's own troop rather than by other troops, and reciprocal calling occurred among troop members significantly more often than expected by chance. Although there was no evidence of troop-specific call structure or dialect, there were troop-specific responses to the calls of separated tamarins. This response implies the existence of a stable and integrated troop structure that allows troop members to learn and to respond to the individual specific features of each troop member's calls.     

Spontaneous pathology of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and tamarins (Saguinus oedipus, Saguinus mystax)

Background  Marmosets and tamarins are increasingly used in research, but their pathology remains poorly defined compared with Old World primates.

Methods  Necropsy records of 129 marmosets and 52 tamarins were reviewed; none was used experimentally.

Results  The most common marmoset lesions were dehydration, emaciation, nephritis, colitis, and inanition. The most common tamarin lesions were dehydration, ascites, emaciation, and congestive heart failure. Colitis and heart disease were the most common cause of death in marmosets and tamarins, respectively. Immature marmoset and tamarin deaths often occurred within the first month of life. Immature marmosets usually died from inanition, stillbirth, and colitis; immature tamarins from atelectasis, stillbirth, heart failure, and colitis. Lymphoma was the most common neoplasm for both marmosets and tamarins.

Conclusion  The findings were similar to prior reports with differences in frequency and severity. We report the first case of endometriosis in a marmoset.     

Behavioural observations on captive pairs of wild caught tamarins (Saguinus mystax)

Quantitative data are given on 12 categories of behaviour, including scent marking, allogrooming, huddling, and proximity for individual tamarins within 14 male, female pairs and the mated pair of one family group of four animlals. Time sample data were recorded at 30 sec intervals to a total of 260 hr. In addition, some data were collected from within time sample intervals. Individual and intergroup variation in behaviour was a main finding of the study. It was found, however, that females scent marked significantly more than males, at least on the basis of their total marking frequencies, that females tended to groom males more than vice versa, and that although the general proportions of activities were similar in two conditions of housing, their spatial distribution was different under the two conditions. There was very little overt aggression among the pairs.     

Urine washing and related behaviour in wild moustached tamarins,Saguinus mystax (callitrichidae)

Urine washing (UW) and urinating onto hand (UH) are reported for the first time for a wild callitrichid monkey, the moustached tamarin,Saguinus mystax. Both patterns are very rare and no sex difference in frequency is apparent. The temporal distribution shows a maximum of UH/UW around midday when ambient temperature is at maximum and humidity at minimum. No seasonal effects were observed, but any seasonal effect might be masked by the low frequency of UH/UW. UH/UW are not linked to a single behavioural context and may have multiple functions in thermoregulation/water conservation, cleaning, improving grip, and as a social signal.     

Social and seasonal influences on reproductive biology in male moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax)

In several primate taxa there is evidence that the social and physical environment can exert a significant effect on reproductive behavior and biology. In this paper we examine social and physiological factors influencing group composition and reproduction in free-ranging moustached tamarin monkeys (Saguinus mystax mystax). This species is characterized by cooperative care of the young and a breeding system that includes both polyandrous and polygyandrous matings. Body measurements collected on adult males residing in multimale groups indicate marked within-group differences in testes volume. In 12 of 17 groups examined, testes volume of at least two resident adult males differed by 21–174%. Among these males, testes volume was not correlated with either body weight or adult age class. We also examine whether factors such as time of year had an effect on reproductive condition. An analysis of body measurements of 128 adult male and 127 adult female moustached tamarins, wild-trapped and released in northeastern Peru, indicates cyclic changes in genital size. For males, mean monthly testes volume in July (712 mm³) was twice that recorded in June (351 mm³). Females exhibited a similar pattern. Although endocrine information on intra- and intersexual social effects on fertility are unavailable for S. mystax, given the high degree of social cooperation and lack of overt aggression among adult male group members, we offer the possibility that resident male moustached tamarins compete for access to the groups' lone breeding female through socially induced reproductive suppression and sperm competition. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Interspecific variation of scent-marking behaviour in wild tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis.

The scent-marking behaviour of sympatric moustached, Saguinus mystax, and saddle-back tamarins, Saguinus fuscicollis, was compared in order to explore interspecific differences and potential sources of variation. The author examined basic patterns of scent marking (types, intensity, complexity), substrate use (type, orientation, height), and social patterning of scent marking in three groups of S. mystax and one group of S. fuscicollis at the Estación Biológica Quebrada Blanco, Peruvian Amazonia. S. mystax and S. fuscicollis differed significantly in the relative frequency of different types, and in the intensity and complexity of scent marking. Only S. fuscicollis showed allomarking. They also differed significantly in the type, orientation and height of substrates used for scent marking which corresponded to general differences in substrate use. In S. fuscicollis, but very rarely in S. mystax, two or more group members marked the same site sequentially or simultaneously. 'Collective scent marking', i.e. simultaneous scent marking by most or all group members, occurred only in S. fuscicollis. Since both tamarin species live sympatrically in mixed-species groups, ecological factors are unlikely to account for the differences found in scent-marking behaviour (except for differences in substrate use). They probably relate to as yet unknown differences in social and reproductive strategies of the two species.     

Sleeping habits of tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis (Mammalia; Primates; Callitrichidae), in north-eastern Peru

The sleeping habits of moustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax , and saddle-back tamarins, Saguinus fuscicollis , were studied in northeastern Peru. Five types of sleeping sites were distinguished: 1) Jessenia bataua palms; 2) tree hollows; 3) dense tangles of vegetation; 4) crotches; 5) open horizontal branches. Both tamarin species used Jesseniu-palms most frequently. Tree hollows ranked second in the saddle-back tamarins, but were never used by moustached tamarins. Sleeping sites of moustached tamarins were located significantly higher than those of saddle-back tamarins. Jessenia -palms used by moustached tamarins were significantly higher than palms from a random transect sample, but this was not the case for Jessenia -palms used by saddle-back tamarins. For both species, concealment seems to be more important than height above ground. The maximum number of subsequent nights spent in the same sleeping site was two in moustached tamarins and six in saddle-back tamarins. The two tamarin species did not compete for sleeping sites. While the general pattern of sleeping site selection conforms to hypotheses predicting safety from predators as a major factor, differences between the two tamarin species reflect general niche differences between them. Most sleeping sites are located in exclusively used parts of the home range. Moustached tamarins generally use sleeping sites that are close to the last feeding site of the afternoon. The distance between simultaneously used sleeping sites of moustached and saddle-back tamarins are generally close together, which helps to minimize time spent out of interspecific association.     

Seed dispersal by sympatric tamarins,Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis: diversity and characteristics of plant species

In a comparative study of Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis, we examined the spectrum of plant species whose seeds are dispersed by these two tamarin species. We characterize these plants in terms of life form, fruit colour, pulp consistency and seed dimensions. The tamarins disperse a much broader spectrum of plant species than previously reported (88 of the total of 155 species exploited for fruit). While the distribution over plant life form, fruit colour and pulp consistency is identical between dispersed plant species and the overall spectrum of consumed plant species, clear differences exist in all seed parameters (length, width, height, volume, mass) except specific weight between dispersed and non-dispersed plant species for both tamarin species. Plant and fruit characteristics and seed parameters of dispersed plant species do not differ between S. mystax and S. fuscicollis, suggesting that their ecological and evolutionary interaction with plants is very similar or identical.     

Food-sharing in cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus)

Food-sharing behaviour was observed in 9 captive families of cotton-top tamarins (range 4-14 individuals per group), during meals of fresh fruit. Food was transferred to infants by their parents and older sibs in response to begging, and was also offered to them without prior solicitation. Older, mature, reproductively suppressed individuals shared more than young immature monkeys. Infants in larger families received more food than those in smaller ones, though individuals in smaller families shared more. Transfer to infants increased to a maximum at 12 weeks of age and then declined gradually. At one year of age they no longer received food from others. Food sharing by older siblings is a form of helping behaviour which may increase their inclusive fitness, and benefit parents, both directly, by reducing the costs they incur in rearing young, and indirectly, by increasing the amount of food available to infants.     

Genetic markers in the blood of three species of tamarins (Saguinus mystax, S. labiatus and S. oedipus)

Alkaline phosphatase (Alp), esterase-I (Es-I), esterase-II (Es-II), carbonic anhydrase (CA), cell esterase (cEs), esterase-D (Es-D), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), tetrazolium oxidase (To), ceruloplasmin (Cp), Haptoglobin (Hp) and hemoglobin (Hb) in 58-75 samples of three species of tamarins (Saguinus mystax, S. labiatus and S. oedipus) were detected by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Two types (Es-I 1 and Es-I 2) for Es-I, four types (Es-II 1, Es-II 2, Es-II 3 and Es-II 2-3) for Es-II, three types (cEs 1, cEs 2 and cEs 1-2) for cEs, three types (PGD 1, PGD 2 and PGD 1-2) for PGD, two types (To 1 and To 2) for To, and three types (Hp 3, Hp 1-3 and Hp 2-3) for Hp were observed. However, Alp, CA, Es-D, ICD, MDH, Cp and Hb were monomorphic. In the S. mystax, no Es-II or PGD variants were observed. No Es-II variant was seen in the S. oedipus. Gene frequencies of cEs, PGD and Hb were biased in the three species. It is concluded that six polymorphic loci are useful as genetic markers for a species or individual.     

Diet and feeding ecology of saddle-back (Saguinus fuscicollis) and moustached (S. mystax) tamarins in an Amazonian terra firme forest

The feeding ecology of two small-bodied primate species—saddle-back ( Saguinus fuscicollis auilapiresi ) and moustached tamarins ( S. mystax pileatus )—occurring in stable, mixed-species groups was studied in a terra firme forest site in the upper Urucu River, Amazonas, Brazil. Ecological data are based primarily on one mixed-species group of 5–8 saddle-back and 8–10 moustached tamarins. The overall vegetative and animal-prey components of each tamarin species' diet, their selection of food species, and the seasonal variation in their use of plant resources are described, and compared to those of callitrichids elsewhere. The extremely diverse diet of tamarins included at least 136 tree, 33 vine and liana, 12 epiphyte and nine shrub species, as well as a wide range of prey items. They fed primarily on ripe fruit pulp of most of these species for most of the year, but shifted to floral nectar and plant exudates of a few key plant species during the dry season. Taxonomic overlap in plant diet was nearly complete between the two tamarin species, but they diverged considerably in their prey capture techniques. Saddle-backs used the low forest understorey, and manipulatively searched for sedentary prey concealed within discrete, usually rigid, microhabitats, whereas moustached tamarins used the midstorey where they visually searched for mobile prey well exposed on foliage. These and other feeding and foraging patterns are discussed in the light of other callitrichid species studied to date.     

Prey foraging of red titi monkeys, Callicebus cupreus, in comparison to sympatric tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis

We compared the prey capture strategies of red titi monkeys, Callicebus cupreus, with those of sympatric mustached, Saguinus mystax, and saddleback tamarins, Saguinus fuscicollis, to examine whether animal prey is important in niche differentiation between these Neotropical primates. We collected data on strata and substrate use during foraging, on prey searching and capturing, and on prey type of two C. cupreus groups and one group each of S. mystax and S. fuscicollis during a 5-month field study in northeastern Peruvian Amazonia. Our results showed that C. cupreus differed both from S. mystax and S. fuscicollis in prey capture strategies: (1) C. cupreus used lower forest strata for prey search and capture than S. mystax and higher forest strata than S. fuscicollis. (2) C. cupreus captured prey on a higher variety of substrates than S. mystax and more often on open microhabitats compared to S. fuscicollis. (3) C. cupreus captured prey more often directly than S. mystax and rarely by manual search, in contrast to S. fuscicollis. (4) C. cupreus fed exclusively on arthropods and focused on Hymenoptera, in contrast to both tamarin species that focused on Orthoptera and included vertebrates in their diet. These findings indicate that animal prey plays a role in niche differentiation between C. cupreus and S. fuscicollis/S. mystax and might facilitate the coexistence of these three sympatric species.     

Spontaneous occurrence of Angiostrongylus costaricensis in marmosets (Saguinus mystax)

Two marmosets imported from Iquitos, Peru, were found to be infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis. Both animals had large solitary granulomas involving the wall and adjacent mesentery of the small intestine. Histopathologic examination showed the adult nematodes in the lumina of the mesenteric arteries that coursed through these granulomas. The inflammatory reaction was associated with numerous degenerating eggs and larvae. This is the first report of this parasite in nonhuman primates and extends its geographic range to Peru. In addition, in one animal, Dipetalonema sp were seen free in the abdominal cavity, and pleroceroid larvae (spargana) were in the loose connective tissue of the left axilla. This animal also had microgranulomas associated with eggs and larvae of Angiostrongylus in the kidney, liver, lung, and heart.