Feeding gum arabic to new world monkeys: Species differences and palatability

Members of the New, World primate genera Callithrix and Cebuella have speci alisations for eating plant exudates. Exudates are also an important compon ent of the diets of many other callitrichid species in the wild, especially at times of nutritional stress. Gum arabic is fed daily to all marmosets a nd to some tamarins in Jersey Zoo's collection. This study investigated spe cies differences in liking for gum and the effects of the concentration of gum solutions on palatability. As predicted from field data, Callithrix spe cies consumed more gum than other species; Saguinus also showed quite a str ong liking for gum. In parallel with data from the wild, lion tamarins (Leo ntopithecus spp.) consumed the least, and Callimico also took relatively, l ittle. The two marmoset species tended to like stronger solutions of gum mo re than weak solutions and therefore, the provision of smaller amounts of s tronger concentrations is likely to be the most cost-effective way of incor porating gum into the diet. Providing gum to callitrichids on a regular bas is can have significant welfare benefits.