Reproduction, infant survival and productivity of a colony of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus)

Abstract

Starting with 4 pairs of marmosets, 204 young were successfully reared during 6 years. They were kept in family groups of 2- 10. Litter size varied from 1-4; singletons (2%), twins (35%), triplets (55%), and quadruplets (8%). The mean annual increase of weaned young was 3.24 per pair. The median interbirth interval was 154 days. Of 46 pairs of marmosets, 8 failed to produce young. Approximately 11% of young born were stillborn and a further 32% of all young born died within 3 weeks; perinatal mortality is largely a result of the failure of parents to rear more than 2 young. In only 2 of 68 triplet births did the parents rear the young unaided. 53% of young born were males but differential mortality reduced the final sex ratio for live young to 50-5% males. Females did not accept and rear the young after caesarian section. The linear regression of the growth curve for 5-17 months (where y = weight in grams and x = months) could be expressed as y = 16.6x + 163.6. The data form 4 marmoset colonies are compared and the relative efficiency of breeding methods discussed.

Reproductive patterns and birth seasonality in a South-American breeding colony of common marmosets,Callithrix jacchus

“…In general no marked differences in reproductive performance were found between CB and WC common marmoset females, in agreement with data reported by POOLE and EVANS (1982), and Box and HUBRECHT (1987). Indeed, we found that the age of the females at the time of pairing showed a negative correlation with PPI length, although this did not affect infant survival.…”

“…Our results also show that in our colony twins were the most frequent litter size for both captive-born and wild-caught females, in contrast to the data reported by POOLE and EVANS (1982), BOX andHUBRECHT (1987), andROTHE et al (1987) who found a higher incidence of triplet births. These last authors have argued that this increase in the frequency of triplet deliveries in captive population s may be a temporary effect and KILBORN et al (1983) attributed this effect to the high amounts of protein in the diet of captive animals.…”

“…These intervals were longer in our colony than in the other colonies where the animals were maintained under much more controlled environmental conditions [POOLE & EVANS, 1982: mean IBI=154 days; Box & HUBRECHT, 1987: mean PPI=166 days, mean IBI=158 days;KONm et al, 1990: mean PPI (82%)= 144 to 185 days, mean IBI= 150 to 157 days]. The probable reason for reproductive seasonality in our colony is that the outdoor enclosures permit the animals to experience all environmental seasonal variations in photoperiod, temperature, and rainfall.…”

“…For common marmosets, Callithrixjacchus, no differences in reproductive output between wild-caught and captive-born animals have been reported (TARDIF et al, 1984;POOLE & EVANS, 1982;BOX & HUBRECHT, 1987). EVANS (1983) explained these differences between genera as a consequence of a lower reproductive potential of the cotton-top tamarins in captivity, due to the longer interbirth interval, parental neglect, and high mortality after birth.…”

“…In captivity, the occurrence of birth seasonality seems to depend on the characteristics of colony facilities. In colonies in which the animals are maintained in indoor enclosures no seasonality was detected (Box & HUBRECHT, 1987;POOLE & EVANS, 1982), whereas in colonies which use outdoor cages, the births were seasonally restricted (ZIEGLER & STEIN, 1981;MCGREW & WEBSTER, 1995).…”