FEMALE TAMARINS (SAGUINUS - CALLITRICHIDAE) FEED MORE SUCCESSFULLY THAN MALES IN UNFAMILIAR FORAGING TASKS

Fourteen adult male/female pairs of tamarins, 5 red-chested (Saguinus labiatus) 5 saddle-back (S. fuscicollis) and 4 cotton-top (S. oedipus) were each given a series of foraging tasks in which the monkeys reached in to unfamiliar boxes to take food. Behaviour was recorded that related directly to the tasks. In addition, observations were made before each task presentation and compared with equivalent behaviour during the tasks. S. fuscicollis differed significantly from the other species in the baseline conditions and in the presence of the tasks, which they approached less frequently and for less time. Further, males and females across all species differed significantly in that females attempted the tasks more frequently, they spent longer periods attempting to solve them, and they removed food more often. These results were considered as evidence for male 'deference' to a potentially reproductive female.