Habitats, feeding ecology, and home range size in the genus Callithrix

Abstract

The most recent taxonomic revisions of the marmoset genus Callithrix indicate more than 14 species and subspecies, distributed through the southern and eastern part of the Amazon basin (south of the Rio Amazonas and east of its southern tributary, the Rio Madeira) extending into eastern Bolivia and the northeastern tip of Paraguay (eight taxa), and throughout most of central, northeastern and southeastern Brazil (six taxa) (Mittermeier et al. 1988b; Ferrari and Lopes 1992b; Coimbra-Filho 1990; for review see Rylands et al. this volume). Although still lacking sufficient extensive field studies, the wide distribution of this genus testifies to the wide variety of habitats that marmosets occupy, and argues for significant ecological and behavioural differences between the various forms. In this paper, we review the current knowledge regarding their feeding and ranging behaviour with the aim of identifying key features which unite the genus and the differences which separate them, and which are related to their use of contrasting habitats. Aspects of their social behaviour have been reviewed by Sussman and Kinzey (1984), Sussman and Garber (1987), Stevenson and Rylands (1988), and Ferrari and Lopes Ferrari (1989) (see also Rothe and Darms, this volume).