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Food sharing in black lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus).
1Research Department, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Trinity, Jersey, British Isles. afeistner@durrell.org
American Journal of Primatology
|September 19, 2000
Summary
Black lion tamarins share food with infants, with sharing frequency peaking around nine weeks. Infants receive more transferred food than self-fed food until 15 weeks, with sharing continuing past weaning.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Animal communication
- Mammalian social structures
Background:
- Food sharing is crucial for infant development in many species.
- Understanding food sharing in black lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) provides insight into primate social dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental patterns of food sharing in black lion tamarin infants.
- To quantify the frequency and success of infant begging and adult food offering.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 10 captive black lion tamarin infants across six litters.
- Data collection on food sharing events, infant begging, and self-feeding from 4 to 26 weeks of age.
Main Results:
- Parental food sharing increased with infant age until nine weeks, then gradually declined, with continued sharing up to 26 weeks.
- Infants relied more on transferred food than self-feeding until 15 weeks.
- Begging success remained constant at approximately 65%.
Conclusions:
- Black lion tamarins exhibit prolonged food sharing with infants, extending beyond weaning.
- This behavior supports infant development and social bonding within the group.
- Food sharing patterns in black lion tamarins align with those observed in other lion tamarin species.