Food intake of captive cotton-top tamarins was measured at various stages of the life cycle and energy intake was calculated from the results. The intake of adults for maintenance was found to vary around 500 kj kg-¾ day-1 and to decrease with age. During the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, females increased in weight by about 2 g day-1 but energy intake did not show a marked rise above the maintenance range. During lactation, their energy intake appeared to double. Measurements of intake at various stages of growth were compared with a model of the energy requirements for growth which predicted intake quite closely. Compared with non-primate mammals of similar size, the growth rate of this species is slow, and because of this, the energy intake during growth and lactation is also comparatively low.
SummaryThe average age al first parturition in captive-born female cotton-top lamarins was 31 months. Only 18% of full-term young born were successfully reared by primiparous females, but success increased with parity and 71% of babies born at 4th and 5th pregnancies were raised. 15% of litters were single births, 61% were twins and 24% were triplets. There was a seasonal distribution of births, with a clear peak in the spring months. The average interbirth interval was 294 days.
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