Costs of infant carrying in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus: an experimental analysis

Citation
C. Schradin et G. Anzenberger, Costs of infant carrying in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus: an experimental analysis, ANIM BEHAV, 62, 2001, pp. 289-295
Citations number
54
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences","Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
ISSN journal
00033472 → ACNP
Volume
62
Year of publication
2001
Part
2
Pages
289 - 295
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-3472(200108)62:<289:COICIC>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
In callitrichids (marmosets and tamarins), not only the mother but also the father and older offspring (helpers) living in the group take part in infa nt carrying. As a measure of the costs of infant carrying in callitrichids, we measured the distance individual common marmosets were able to leap wit hout carrying infants and when carrying infants of different weight. We fou nd a significant negative correlation between carrying weight and the dista nce marmosets could leap. A weight of 65 g (the combined weight of newborn twins) reduced the leaping ability by an average of 17%. We conclude that i nfant carrying in callitrichids entails significant behavioural costs that can be expected to have great impact on their life in the field, especially on foraging and predator avoidance, that is, behaviours that incorporate l eaping ability. (C) 2001 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.