URINE WASHING AND RELATED BEHAVIOR IN WILD MOUSTACHED TAMARINS, SAGUINUS-MYSTAX (CALLITRICHIDAE)

Urine washing (UW) and urinating onto hand (UH) are reported for the f irst time for a wild callitrichid monkey, the moustached tamarin, Sagu inus mystax. Both patterns are very rare and no sex difference in freq uency is apparent. The temporal distribution shows a maximum of UH/UW around midday when ambient temperature is at maximum and humidity at m inimum. No seasonal effects were observed, but any seasonal effect mig ht be masked by the low frequency of UH/UW. UH/UW are not linked to a single behavioural context and may have multiple functions in thermore gulation/water conservation, cleaning, improving grip, and as a social signal.