ABSTRACT

The marmosets and tamarins, members of the family Callitrichidae, have great potential as laboratory animal models for human diseases. Determination of the nutritional requirements for a Feral Callitrichidae involves assimilation of information from four areas of study: observation of the diet consumed by related species, field observations of food consumption by the species being studied, and anatomical features of the species that influence nutritional requirements, and controlled research of the nutritional requirements of the species. Captive Callitrichidae have consistently been described as fastidious eaters. The result is that most callitrichid colony managers use complicated schedules to feed commercial primate diets supplemented with various foodstuffs, vitamins, and minerals. The survival rate of newly imported Callitrichidae depends on their health upon arrival; the health of the monkey and its resistance to opportunistic pathogens correlate with its nutritional status. Different morphological characteristics between Callithrix and Saguinus suggest potential differences in dietary requirements or preferences.