The relationship between body size and mixed-species troops of tamarins (Saguinus spp.)

While Saguinus fuscicollis forms mixed-species troops with sympatric tamarin species in parts of its geographic range, in other parts it does not. The question is addressed whether body size divergence is a critical factor for this difference. Analysis of body size (head-body length) data shows that body size divergence ranges between 8 and 17% for associated species and between 1 and 4% for non-associated species. In associated species, the degree of body size divergence seems to correlate with the stability of mixed-species troops (i.e., time spent in interspecific association). It is concluded that body size plays an important role for niche differentiation, sympatric coexistence and the formation of mixed-species troops in tamarins.