Anomalous Pigmentation in Invasive and Native Marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix penicillata (Primates, Callitrichidae), and Their Hybrids in Brazil

Abstract

Leucism is the lack or reduction in pigmentation in the most or parts of the body, but not in the eyes and body extremities. It is extremely rare in primates and has never been reported for Callithrix, a genus endemic to Brazil. We searched for individuals of Callithrix jacchus and C. penicillata with pigmentation anomalies in a systematic survey of three protected areas in the Atlantic Forest, within museum collections in Brazil, and opportunistically during field studies. Since 2008, we have recorded 8 individuals with leucism in small urban and periurban forest patches. Four were from native populations of C. penicillata in Cerrado savannahs and of C. jacchus in the Caatinga xeric scrubland, and 4 were from populations of hybrids between C. jacchus and C. penicillata in invaded areas in the coastal Atlantic Forest. We found no pigmentation abnormalities in museum specimens. We hypothesize that the observed leucism may be linked to inbreeding within the native range, but to hybridization within the invaded range, and discuss the likely ecological consequences to leucistic individuals.

Updated and annotated checklist of recent mammals from Brazil

“…The three species hybridize with each other and with Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix kuhlli and Callithrix aurita. Hybrids were registered in the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco and Bahia (Rosa et al 2017a, Aximoff et al 2020.…”

First records of leucism in Leontocebus nigricollis graellsi (Primates: Callitrichidae)

“…The few known reports of leucism in primates have been documented mostly in large species, particularly in the genus Alouatta (Aximoff & Vaz, 2016;Barros-Diaz et al, 2022;López-Platas et al, 2021), but also in Ateles (Guzmán Caro et al, 2018); in small primates, there are only a few reports for the genus Callithrix (Aximoff et al, 2020;do Vale et al, 2018). Therefore, in this short communication, we present the first reports of leucism in the genus Leontocebus.…”

“…Leucism is an atypical condition of recessive genetic origin that occurs as a consequence of mutations that affect the generation, distribution, and aggregation of the melanin pigment in the skin of many vertebrates and is particularly noticeable in mammals (Lamoreux et al, 2010). Although this condition has been frequently mentioned in various orders of mammals (Tirira & Arbeláez, 2020), reports in primates are extremely rare (Aximoff et al, 2020;Barros-Diaz et al, 2022;Ramos-Luna et al, 2022), even though they comprise a conspicuous group that is frequently sighted (Mittermeier et al, 2013).…”

Hypopigmentation in mantled howler monkeys Alouatta palliata (gray 1849): First documented cases of whole‐body leucism in South America

“…In mammals, hypopigmentation conditions like leucism have been recorded in several taxa, for example, canids (López‐González, 2011 ), erinaceids (Morris & Tutt, 1996 ), mustelids (Tortato & Althoff, 2007 ), pinnipeds (Acevedo & Aguayo, 2008 ), procyonids (Silva‐Caballero et al, 2014 ), chiropterans (García‐Morales et al, 2012 ), rodents (Mejía Valenzuela, 2019 ), soricids (Guevara et al, 2011 ), and ursids (Ritland et al, 2001 ). In neotropical primates, there are several records of abnormal pigmentation in the coat (López‐Platas et al, 2021 ), for example, Brown howler monkey Alouatta guariba clamitans (Aximoff & Vaz, 2016 ; Fortes & Bicca‐Marques, 2008 ), Black‐handed spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi (Espinal et al, 2016 ), Black‐tufted marmoset Callithrix penicillata , Common Marmoset Callithrix jacchus , and their hybrids (Aximoff et al, 2020 ; do Vale et al, 2018 ).…”