Gender Differences in Marmosets and Tamarins: Responses to Food Tasks
Abstract
The study of behavioural gender differences among Callitrichid primates
has been generally neglected. We describe evidence from experimental studies in
which adult female tamarins (Saguinus) and marmosets (Callithrix) demonstrate priority
of access to food that is spatially and temporarily restricted. Differences in behavioural
strategies between both reproductive and non-reproductive females, and males, are
consistent with differences between the genera in their feeding ecology and social
organisation. They are also functionally plausible. A recent study gives preliminary
data to show that, although mated females in family groups of common marmosets
demonstrate priority of access to food sources, overall there are differences in
responsiveness that may be influenced by factors such as the time of feeding, energy
content and preference of food.