Reproductive failure, possible maternal infanticide, and cannibalism in wild moustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax.

ABSTRACT: Maternal infanticide in wild non-human primates has only been reported twice. In this paper, we report a possible new case of infanticide and cannibalism within a series of four successive reproductive failures in wild moustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax. Necropsy and genetic analyses of the corpses enabled us to rule out any pathology, and to determine paternity. The mother was seen biting and then eating the head of its own infant during a period when another female was pregnant and gave birth just 1 month later. Before that, the perpetrator had given birth to twins three times successfully when four to five adult and subadult males were present in the group. Although we do not know for certain that the infant was alive when the mother started biting it, our field observations preceding

SUBMITTER: Culot L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3068257 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature