Interactions between parents and infants,and the development of independence in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Detailed observations were made of the parent-infant interactions of five adult pairs and 31 infant common marmosets (Callithrix jachus), housed in captive family groups. Records of parental measures were taken up to 4 months old and comparisons made between infants in similar social situations. These comparisons investigate sex differences, birth-order variations, those between singleton and twin infants, parental variation and the proportion of time that older siblings carry infants. Correlations between the measures reveal that both parents are responsible for promoting and regulating increasing infant independence. In the discussion, comparisons are made with other parent-infant studies and problems of the adaptiveness of the Callitrichid social system considered.