Feeding Behavior of the Black-Tufted-ear Marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) (Primata, Callitrichidae) in a Tropical CerradoSavanna

摘要

We characterized the diet of a population of the marmoset Callithrix penicillata in a cerrado fragment in SE Brazil. A transect was used to follow the group weekly during one year, registeringlife area and feedingbehavior. A total of 67 hours of lifearea and 51 hours of feeding behavior observations were completed. The marmosets used an area of 6.85 ha with population density of 2.04 individuals/ha and the group composition varied between 10 to 14 individuals. The animals fed on 23 distinct tree species, eating fruit, buds, flowers, leaves, young stems, resin, ants, termites and bird eggs, with differences in feeding habits between the dry and wet seasons. Our results showed that even in severely disturbed areas, marmosets may not only survive butalso maintain a good reproductive capacity. This ability is due to their behavioral plasticity and indicates this species as an interesting social mammal to assist future projects of conservation in fragmented areas of tropical savanna.