Female marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) can be identified from the chemical composition of their scent marks

The present study analyzed 42 organic solvent extracts of scent mark pools from five dominant female common marmosets by gas chromatography (GC) and c ombined GC and mass spectrometry. We determined whether there were qualitat ive or quantitative differences between the chemical composition of scent m arks from individual females. Gas chromatography and mass spectral analysis detected the same 162 chemicals in 86% (36/42) of scent mark pools from fi ve dominant females. This near identical chemical composition of scent mark s suggested there were few, ii any, qualitative differences between the che mical composition of scent marks from individual females. instead, quantita tive differences in scent may provide the key factor distinguishing individ ual females. Using the relative concentration of highly volatile chemicals detected by GC in scent marks, linear discriminant analysis classified scen t mark pools to their correct donor similar to 91% of the time. Such highly reliable statistical matching of scent, to donor suggested that each indiv idual female common marmoset has a unique ratio of highly volatile chemical s in their scent marks which may permit individual identification of female s from odors in their scent alone.