Biological propensities of the Callitrichinae: a much used-little known group

The use of callitrichid primates in biomedical research was encouraged initially by their susceptibility to various diseases such as infectious hepatitis and rubella. However, there was no supporting biological knowledge which helped to keep them healthy and breed effectively in captivity. Further, various callitrichid biomedical models are endangered species; hence, animal welfare and primate conservation are interrelated. Recent information has extended our knowledge of the natural life styles of these species in various ways; but there is still little to predict persistent concerns of effective management in captivity. Hence, we need practical information such as those derived from laboratory records of housing, reproduction, diet and health, together with studies that compare specifically behaviour in different laboratory conditions. More important in the long run, is that we study the biobehavioural propensities of different species. As yet callitrichids are largely unknown in these regards--a situation that continues to present problems for the reliability, validity, standardization and generalization of experimental procedures.