Tamarin

Behavioural testing of protein fractions has not kept pace with semiochemical studies. Belcher et al. (1990) found that the mixed scent marks of the Saddle-backed Tamarin (S. fusicollis) comprise urine and genital/suprapubic gland secretions. Both sexes deposit mixtures of pheromonally active large molecules at, for example, exudate feeding... 

The ability to compare semiochemical patterns and to assess degrees of similarity is a likely mechanism underlying the establishment, and eventually the maintenance of genetic divergence. Amongst Tamarins (Saguinus spp.) and Marmosets, both for within- and between- (related) species distinctions, the complexity of their scent marks provides a discriminatory mechanism (Epple et ai, 1987 Smith et al., 1997). Mixed species groups of these monkeys are enabled to co-exist, to... 

Epple G., Alveario M.C., Golob N.F. and Smith A.B. (1980). Stability and attractiveness related to age of scent marks of Saddle-Back Tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis). J Chem Ecol 6, 735-748. 

Evans C.S. and Grigorieva E.V. (1995). Morphology of the vomeronasal organ in two South American primates, Red-Bellied Tamarin (Saguinus labiatus) and Dwarf Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) histology and lectin histochemistry. Adv Biosciences 93, 31-42. 

Washabaugh K. and Snowdon C.T. (1998). Chemical communication of reproductive status in female Cotton-Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus). Am J Primatol 45, 337-349. 

Tamarin, A. I., Zabrodsky, S. S., and Yepanov, G., Heat Transfer Between a Horizontal Staggered Tube Bundle and a Fluidized Bed, Heat Transfer-Soviet Research, 8(5) 51—55 (1976)... 

French, J.A. and Cleveland, J. (1984) Scent-marking in the tamarin, Saguinus oedipus sex differences and ontogeny. Anim. Behav. 32, 615-623. 

Buchanan-Smith, H.M., Anderson, D.A. and Ryan, C.W. (1993) Responses of cotton-top tamarins (,Saguinus oedipus) to faecal scents of predators and non-predators. Anim. Welf. 2, 17-32. 

Pryce, C. R., Abbott, D. H., Hodges, J. K., and Martin, R. D. 1988. Maternal behavior is related to prepartum urinary estradiol levels in red-bellied tamarin monkeys. Physiology and Behavior 44 717-726. 

A mammal may emit many volatile compounds. Humans, for instance, give off hundreds of volatiles, many of them chemically identified (Ellin etal., 1974). The volatiles include many classes of compound such as acids (gerbil), ketones, lactones, sulfides (golden hamster), phenolics (beaver, elephant), acetates (mouse), terpenes (elephant), butyrate esters (tamarins), among others. The human samples mentioned before contained hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, nitriles, aromatics, heterocyclics, sulfur compounds, ethers, and halogenated hydrocarbons. Sulfur compounds are found in carnivores, such as foxes, coyotes, or mustelids. The major volatile compound in urine of female coyotes, Canis latrans, is methyl 3-methylhut-3-enyl sulfide, which accounts for at least 50% of all urinary volatiles (Schultz etal, 1988). 

The scent mark of the saddle-back tamarin, Saguinusfuscicollis, contains water-soluble proteins. The major protein (66kDa) of the scent mark occurs in the urine, while another major protein (ISkDa) derives from gland secretions. If the proteins are removed by enzymatic degradation, tamarins still discriminate scent marks from different donor types. However, they are able to discriminate scents with intact proteins from those with the proteins digested. Consequently, the proteins are most likely an integral part of the scent image (Belcher et ah, 1990). 

For mammals, if not vertebrates in general, multicomponent pheromones appear to be the rule. Such mixtures can comprise compounds of a wide range of volatility. They have been variously termed odor profile, pattern, odor image (Albone, 1984), gestalt (Evans ct al., 1978), or mosaic (Johnston, 2005). One of the best-investigated odor profiles is that of the scent mark of the saddle-back tamarin, S. fuscicoUis, (Smith et al, 1985). Here, not even the 16 butyrate esters are sufficient for subspecies recognition. Additional volatiles are also required. 

Saddleback tamarin monkeys, Saguinisfuscicollis, harbor a complex microflora in the secretions of their circumgenital glands. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Gram-negative bacteria. Streptococcus spp., and coryneform bacteria were... 

Among primates, females of the saddleback tamarin, Saguinusfuscicollis, discriminate conspecific scent marks from those of other species or subspecies (Epple etal., 1988), based on a complex mixture of compounds (p. 168). Likewise, Lfiilvus and L. macaco distinguish scent marks by species and show more interest in the other species odor than their own (Fornasieri andRoeder, 1992). 

In primates, effects can be complex. Female cotton-top tamarins, Saguinus o. oedipus, require three conditions to start sexual behavior and ovarian cyclicity. These are release from the suppression by their mother, release from suppression by other family members, and direct contact with, or stimulation by, an unfamiliar male (Widowski etal, 1990). 

Among primates, red-bellied tamarins [Saguinus labiatus) sniff and avoid fecal extracts of jaguar (P. ottw), jaguarundi Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and mar-gay [Feliswiedi) more than those from non-predatory mammals. In this case, it is not clear whether these predators actually prey on tamarins (Caine and Weldon, 1989). 

Belcher, A., Epple, G., Kiiderling, L, and Smith, A. B. HI. (1988). Volatile components of scent material from cotton-top tamarin Saguinus o. oedipus) a chemical and behavioral study. JourndZo/C/remrmZEcoZcg)/ 14,1367-1384. 

Caine, N. G. and Weldon, P. J. (1989). Responses by red-bellied tamarins Saguinus labiatus) to fecal scents of predatory and non-predatory Neotropical mammals. Biotropica 21, 186-189. 

French, J. A., Abbot, D. H., and Snowdon, C. T. (1984). The effect of social environment on estrogen excretion, scent marking, and sociosexual behavior in tamarins Saguinus oedipus). American Journal ofPrimatology 6,155-167. 

Nordstrom, K. M., Belcher, A. M., Epple, G., et al. (1989). Skin surface microflora of the saddle-back tamarin monkey, Saguinusfuscicollis. Journal of Chemical Ecology 15, 629-639. 

Widowski, T. M., Ziegler, T. E., Elowson, H. M., and Snowdon, C. T. (1990). The role of males in the stimulation of reproductive function in female cotton-top tamarins, Saguinus o. oedipus. Animal Behaviour40,731-741. 

Ziegler, T. E., Epple, G., Snowdon, C. T., etal. (1993). Detection of the chemical signals of ovulation in the cotton-top tamarin, Saguinus oedipus. Animal Behaviour 45,313-322. 

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