Reproduction of the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) in captivity, with comparisons to cotton-top and golden lion tamarins.

Little information has been published on the reproductive biology and behavior of the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator). We analyzed twelve years of data on emperor tamarins at the Los Angeles Zoo and made comparisons with data on cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus o. oedipus) and golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) from the same collection. Secondary sex ratios did not differ significantly from 50:50. Births were not strictly seasonal for any species. The number of infants reared had a significant effect on interbirth interval for all species, with shorter intervals when only one or no infants were reared, but females did sometimes conceive early in lactation. In emperor tamarin families, all fathers and most older siblings carried new infants, usually beginning within a few days after a birth. Previous exposure to younger siblings did not appear to be critical to the development of competent parental behavior by zooborn emperor tamarin females.