Common Marmosets

he common marmoset family on display at Marmosets on the Web the Primate Center is part of our center’s colony of about 240 common marmosets. Selected Web sites on marmosets: TThis New World primate species is native to the for- ests of Northeast Brazil and is one of many marmo- • http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ set species known in South America. common_marmoset • http://marmosetcare.com/ Our marmoset families The lobby's marmoset family includes a dominant breeding pair and their offspring. Our adult males The Wisconsin wear blue neck tags; our females wear red. National Primate Depending on when you visit, you might see the Research Center has dominant male or female, or their offspring, the largest research carrying infants on their backs. colony of captive marmosets in the Marmosets typically give birth to twins every five Midwest. months. Infants usually start to move around on their own at three weeks of age, but they can be Although these marmosets were all born in captiv- carried by others until they are about three to four ity, they behave much as marmosets would in the months old. Marmosets mature at around 18 months wild. They are highly social and have a dominance and can live up to 14 years, sometimes longer. hierarchy. Only the dominant female gives birth, and everyone in the family, including the dominant male, Marmoset research helps carry the infants. Research involving marmosets helps us understand The family's diet fertility regulation, mating, parenting, bonding, ag- ing and brain function. During dry months, much of a wild marmo- set’s diet comes from feeding on gum, the Center research has included the following studies: sticky substance that tropical trees use to seal Center animal care staff and scientists in the the damage done by marmosets gouging holes  1990s perfected a noninvasive assisted fertilization in the bark. Our captive marmosets gouge technique for use in labs, zoos and in conservation holes in branches and scent mark them as they efforts for endangered primates. The nonsurgical would in the wild. As our Wisconsin cherry method is called an embryo flush. The common and other branches provide no gum, our mar- marmoset was the smallest primate in which this mosets are fed a nutritionally complete diet. technique had been successful. Thanks to this break- through technology, our center reached a milestone We feed our marmosets a special high-fiber in 1996, when three surrogate marmoset mothers chow that is nutritionally complete. They also each bore a set of twins after being nonsurgically get additional treats such as meal worms, wax implanted with transferred embryos. worms, grapes, bananas, apples and sunflower seeds. Marmosets are given rewards during handling such as mini marshmallows or liquid  Center researchers have studied hormone levels nutritional supplements. in wild female marmoset fecal specimens from a field site in Natal, Brazil. They analyzed the

Copyright 2019 University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents specimens at the  Scientists for first time in 2004 imaged the brains Primate Center. of awake nonhuman primates in response to emo- By studying tionally arousing stimuli. Using functional Magnetic these hormones, Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Primate Center scientists scientists learned revealed the link between external sexual odors and about marmoset the internal sexual arousal system. Their work opened biological clocks, up a whole new field of neural imaging research pos- reproductive sibilities. Since this study, center scientists have used success and mat- imaging to learn more about how hormone levels ing strategies. adjust and change, driving brain signals among males, Hormone levels females and offspring that can affect the success of and fluctuations mating, pregnancy, infant care and social cooperation. can also inform researchers about  Center researchers in 2006 used marmoset families social organiza- to scientifically prove that primate fathers-to-be pack tion and behav- A common marmoset dad carries on the pounds when their spouses are pregnant. The ior. This knowl- his triplets at the Wisconsin phenomenon has been called Couvade Syndrome, or edge aids primate National Primate Research Center. sympathetic pregnancy, in humans. Hormonal signal- conservation and ing may drive expectant fathers to prepare for the animal care. energetic cost of fatherhood by gaining weight during their mate's pregnancy.  Common marmosets have been useful models for contraception research. Through the UW Asian  Today, our scientists are also studying marmosets Partnership Initiative and Contraceptive Develop- to learn new stem cell research and gene editing ment Program (CONRAD; a component of US techniques. These techniques can help improve our AID), scientists from Wisconsin and Thailand in understanding of Parkinson’s disease, ALS and other 2001 isolated a chemical called triptolide from an degenerative brain diseases, which could lead to bet- Asian plant. They administered the natural com- ter treatments for these diseases. pound to male common marmosets to measure safe and effective levels. The contraceptive effects of Nonhuman primate conservation triptolide have been known since the 1970s, yet this was the first controlled study in primates. Our scientists have collaborated with others worldwide to study the common marmoset,  Center studies of estrogen depletion in com- buffy-headed marmoset, muriqui monkey, mon marmosets, associated with either the surgical cotton-top tamarin, cebus monkey, patas mon- removal of ovaries or with natural social contracep- key, blue monkey, colobus monkey and other tion, have shown that marmosets have a unique bio- wild primates. Developing new ways to protect logical mechanism that prevents reduction in bone wild primates and promote their breeding both mineral density. This knowledge can help us learn in captivity and in the wild is critical as habitats more about osteoporosis in humans and perhaps and populations continue to shrink for many lead to better treatments and preventions. monkeys and apes. Researchers also study infec- tious diseases and how they might harm wild  Primate Center marmoset researchers are study- primate populations and humans alike. ing the complex mechanisms of social suppression of adrenocortical function, behavioral determinants Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, of reproductive suppression, and neuroendocrine University of Wisconsin-Madison mechanisms of reproductive suppression. Such Jon E. Levine, Director influences are particularly pronounced in coopera- www.primate.wisc.edu tive breeding species, in which a single dominant National Institutes of Health female breeds in each social group and other group- Office of Research Infrastructure Programs mates provide “alloparental care” for her offspring, meaning everyone chips in and carries and cares for Fact sheet by Tonia Scantlen & Jordana Lenon her infants. (updated 2019)