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Adaptive Radiations of Neotropical Primates pp 97–110Cite as

The Other Side of Callitrichine Gummivory

Digestibility and Nutritional Value

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Abstract

Gummivory is rare among mammals. Within primates, however, there are species from many different taxa that feed on gums and other plant exudates (Nash, 1986). Why primates appear to be predisposed to gummivory is an intriguing question. Gum would not be considered an intrinsically high quality food. It is difficult to obtain and presumed to be difficult to digest (Van Soest, 1982). It generally contains little protein, no fat and no vitamins. Gums can contain tannins, phenolic compounds, and other chemicals that have potential adverse effects for animals that ingest them (Wrangham and Waterman, 1981; Nash and Whitten, 1989). Gums do provide complex carbohydrates, and often contain significant quantities of nutritionally important minerals. But on balance, gums would not appear to be particularly good food.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoological Research, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 20008

    Michael L. Power

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  1. Michael L. Power
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

    Marilyn A. Norconk

  2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

    Alfred L. Rosenberger

  3. University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois

    Paul A. Garber

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© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Power, M.L. (1996). The Other Side of Callitrichine Gummivory. In: Norconk, M.A., Rosenberger, A.L., Garber, P.A. (eds) Adaptive Radiations of Neotropical Primates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8770-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8770-9_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4686-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8770-9

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