Platyrrhine juvenile mortality in captivity and in the wild

I reviewed literature on juvenile mortality in the Platyrrhini in order to evaluate reproductive success in captive breeding. Juvenile mortality includes abortion, premature mortality stillbirth and death of the unweaned young The highest losses occur in the Callitrichidae (31% through 3 months of age; 86% through 6 months of age) and in Lagothrix spp. (around 50% through I month of age) among the Cebidae. High abortion rates occur in Saguinus and Aotus. High stillbirth incidences are reported for the Callitrichidae (Callithrix and Saguinus) and for the Cebidae (Saimiri and Aotus). Although most mortality occurs in the first week for most species, a considerable proportion of deaths occurs in the period from week I until weaning Important causes of death are trauma and aberrant parental behavior. Prematurity plays an important role in perinatal death among the Callitrichidae. Dystocia is a major cause of stillbirth in Saimiri Congenital malformations occur in Callithrix, Saguinus, Leontopithecus, and Saimiri Infectious diseases play a secondary role in mortality, particularly during the first period of life. A higher mortality risk is present if the infant is male, if the litter size is different from two (Callitrichidae), if the mother is primiparous, captive born, or inexperienced or if the group is small (Callitrichidae) or unstable (Cebidae).