The social behavior of a marmoset (Saguinus fuscicollis) group II: Behavior patterns and social interaction

The behavioral patterns and social interaction of a marmoset (Saguinus fuscicollis) group in a semi-naturalistic environment were observed for 14 months. The analysis showed that, of the 32 behavior patterns observed, the 10 most frequent accounted for over 97 per cent of the total behavior. One pattern, sit and look, accounted for 44 per cent of the total behavior. The two most frequent social behavior patterns, grooming and social play, were concentrated in different parts of the group. The focal point of grooming was the adult female; social play was characteristic of younger animals 4–20 months of age. These results were compared with other studies of marmosets and with primate studies on grooming and social play.