Gut morphology of Callithrix nigriceps and Saguinus labiatus from western Brazilian Amazonia.

Quantitative data on the gut proportions of the recently-described black-headed marmoset ( Callithrix nigriceps) from western Brazilian Amazonian are presented. Like other marmosets, C. nigriceps exhibits a relatively large caecum and colon associated with adaptations for gummivory. The degree of gut specialisation recorded is greater than that for any other platyrrhine for which quantitative data are available. Gum was found in the stomach contents of all four individuals examined, although the fruit/seeds of as many as seven different plant taxa were also encountered, in addition to insects of six different orders. Gut proportions of two Saguinus labiatus from the same region were typical of the more frugivorous tamarins, and stomach contents included only fruit and insects. Relative gut proportions of both species were closely similar to those of congeners from the same region. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]