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Gummivory and gut morphology in two sympatric callitrichids ( Callithrix emiliae and Saguinus fuscicollis weddelli ) from western Brazilian Amazonia
Author(s) -
Ferrari Stephen F.,
Martins Eduardo S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330880108
Subject(s) - callithrix , caecum , biology , sympatric speciation , amazon rainforest , zoology , callitrichidae , primate , ecology , medicine
A comparative analysis of the gastrointestinal tracts of wild caught marmosets, Callithrix emiliae , and tamarins, Saguinus fuscicollis weddelli , was undertaken in order to evaluate the degree of specialisation for digestion of plant exudates. Compared to S.f. weddelli, C. emiliae exhibits a reduced small intestine and a relatively large, compartmentalised caecum in which gum is probably fermented. The apparent specialisation of the digestive tract in C. emiliae correlates with that of its dentition, which is adapted for gouging the bark of gum‐producing plants. A similar degree of specialisation of the caecum is predicted for other marmosets ( Callithrix spp. and Cebuella pygmaea ). © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.