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Unrearable litters and prenatal reduction of litter size in the common marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus )
Author(s) -
Windle Colin P.,
Baker Harry F.,
Ridley Rosalind M.,
Oerke AnnKathrin,
Martin Robert D.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of medical primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1600-0684
pISSN - 0047-2565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0684.1999.tb00254.x
Subject(s) - marmoset , litter , biology , ovulation , pregnancy , offspring , callithrix , captivity , fetus , physiology , zoology , andrology , endocrinology , ecology , genetics , medicine
It is widely believed that common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) typically give birth to twins under natural conditions. In captivity, however, births of triplets or even larger litters are common, although parents rarely succeed in rearing more than two offspring. The traditional interpretation is that captive conditions, notably the ready availability of food, have led to increased reproductive output, perhaps involving a higher ovulation rate. The present paper provides evidence, combined from ultrasound examinations between ovulation and birth and hysterotomies conducted during the late embryonic and early fetal phase, that the litter size can be progressively reduced during pregnancy without spontaneous abortion. There is an unusually long lag phase prior to the onset of embryonic growth in common marmosets; the fetal stage does not begin until day 80 of the 144‐day pregnancy. Reduction in litter size occurs during embryonic stages (up to day 80), and continues into the fetal stages. These results indicate that the common marmoset is adapted for flexible modification of litter size between ovulation and birth. The high incidence of triplet births in captive colonies may therefore be an expression of an adapted natural developmental process under artificial circumstances.