Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social play behavior of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus Erxl., 1777) in captivity

  • Published:
Primates Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Twenty-one captive marmosets (Callithrix jacchus Erxl., 1777) were observed as to the ethology of social play. With the aid of video tape recordings, 38 elements of behavior comprising play episodes were distinguished. The peer group was composed of the nonadult members of the family group, whereby the twin was found to be the preferred partner, as measured by the duration of play. Social play is often accompanied by various communicative signals. Contemporary theoretical concepts of social play were tested on the basis of the results of this study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altmann, S. A., 1962 Social behavior of anthropoid primates: Analysis of recent concepts. In:Roots of Behavior: Genetics, Instinct and Socialization,E. L. Bliss (ed.), Harper, New York, pp. 277–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altmann-Schönberner, D., 1965 Beobachtungen über Aufzucht und Entwicklung des Verhaltens beim Großen Löwenäffchen,Leontocebus rosalia. D. Zool. Garten (N.F.), 31: 227–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, J. D. &J. I. Baldwin, 1973 The role of play in social organization: Comparative observations on squirrel monkeys (Saimiri).Primates, 14: 369–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———— & ————, 1974 Exploration and social play in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri).Amer. Zool., 14: 303–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bally, G., 1945.Vom Ursprung und von den Grenzen der Freiheit. Eine Deutung des Spiels bei Tier und Mensch, Schwabe, Basel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beach, F. A., 1945. Current concepts of play in animals.Amer. Natur., 79: 523–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bekoff, M., 1974. Social play and play-soliciting by infant canids.Amer. Zool., 14: 323–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, M., 1969.The Behavioral Repertoire of the Stumptail Macaque. Karger, Basel & New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bierens de Haan, J. A., 1952. Das Spiel eines jungen solitären Schimpansen.Behaviour, 4: 144–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Box, H. O., 1975. Quantitative studies of behaviour within captive groups of marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus).Primates, 16: 155–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buytendijk, F. J. J., 1934.Wesen und Sinn des Spiels. Das Spielen des Menschen und der Tiere als Erscheinungsform der Lebenstriebe. Wolff, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, C. R., 1965. The howlers of Barro Colorado Island. In:Primate Behavior,I. DeVore (ed.), Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, New York, pp. 250–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolhinow, P., 1971. At play in the fields.Nat. Hist., 80(10): 66–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I., 1950a. Beiträge zur Biologie der Haus- und Ährenmaus nebst einigen Beobachtungen an anderen Nagern.Z. Tierpsychol., 7: 558–587.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1950b. Über die Jugendentwicklung des Verhaltens eines männlichen Dachses (Meles meles L.) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Spiels.Z. Tierpsychol., 7: 327–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1972.Grundriss der vergleichenden Verhaltensforschung. 3rd ed., Piper, München.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epple, G., 1967. Vergleichende Untersuchungen über Sexual- und Sozialverhalten der Krallenaffen (Hapalidae).Folia primat., 7: 37–65.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1968. Comparative studies on vocalization in marmoset monkeys (Hapalidae).Folia primat., 8: 1–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fady, J.-C., 1969. Les jeux sociaux: Le compagnon de jeu chez les jeunes. Observations chezMacaca irus.Folia primat., 11: 134–143.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fedigan, L., 1972. Social and solitary play in a colony of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops).Primates, 13: 347–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, A., 1935. Rearing marmosets in captivity.J. Mammal., 16: 181–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy, D. M. &G. Mitchell, 1974. Infant socialization in primates.J. Hum. Evol., 3: 563–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frantz, J., 1963. Beobachtungen bei einer Löwenäffchenaufzucht.D. Zool. Garten (N.F.,), 28: 115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gautier-Hion, A., 1971. Répertoire comportemental du Talapoin (Miopithecus talapoin).Biol. Gabonica, 7: 295–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groos, K., 1930.Die Spiele der Tiere. 3rd ed., Fischer, Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harlow, H. F. &M. K. Harlow, 1965. The affectional systems. In:Behavior of Nonhuman Primates,A. M. Schrier,H. F. Harlow, &F. Stollnitz (eds.), vol. 2, Academic Press, New York & London, pp. 287–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassenstein, B., 1972. Bedingungen für Lernprozesse-teleonomisch gesehen.Nova Acta Leopoldina (N.F.), 37: 289–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, J. D. &S. M. Herrero, 1974. Social play in the American Black Bear: Its similarity to canid social play and an examination of its identifying characteristics.Amer. Zool., 14: 371–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinde, R. A., 1973.Das Verhalten der Tiere. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M., 1967. The facial displays of the catarrhine monkeys and apes. In:Primate Ethology,D. Morris (ed.), Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, pp. 7–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopf, S., E. Hartmann-Wiesner, B. Kühlmorgen, &S. Mayer, 1974. The behavioral repertoire of the Squirrel monkey (Saimiri).Folia primat., 21: 225–249.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inhelder, E., 1955. Zur Psychologie einiger Verhaltensweisen—besonders des Spiels—von Zootieren.Z. Tierpsychol., 12: 88–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Itani, J., 1958. On the acquisition and propagation of a new food habit of Japanese monkeys at Takasakiyama.Primates, 1: 84–98. (in Japansee with English summary)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jay Dolhinow, P. &N. Bishop, 1970. The development of motor skills and social relationships among primates through play. In:Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, vol. 4,J. P. Hill (ed.), The University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, pp. 141–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latta, J., S. Hopf, &D. Ploog, 1967. Observation on mating behavior and sexual play in the Squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).Primates, 8: 229–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loizos, C., 1966. Play in mammals.Symp. zool. Soc. Lond., 18: 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1967. Play behaviour in higher primates: A review. In:Primate Ethology,D. Morris (ed.), Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, pp. 176–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1969. An ethological study of chimpanzee play.Proc. 2nd Int. Congr. Primat., Atlanta, Ga., 1968, vol. 1, Karger, Basel & New York, pp. 87–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marler, P. &W. J. Hamilton III, 1967.Mechanisms of Animal Behaviour. 2nd ed., Wiley, New York, London, & Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Holzapfel, M., 1956a. Das Spiel bei Säugetieren. In:Handbuch der Zoologie,W. Kükenthal (ed.), vol. 8, de Gruyter, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1956b. Über die Bereitschaft zu Spiel-und Instinkthandlungen.Z. Tierpsychol., 13: 442–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Schwarze, D., 1971. Ludic behavior in young mammals. In:Brain Development and Behavior,M. B. Sterman,D. J. McGinty, &A. M. Adolfini (eds.), Academic Press, New York & London, pp. 229–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owens, N. W., 1975. Social play behaviour in free-living baboons,Papio anubis. Anim. Behav., 23: 387–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poirier, F. E. &E. O. Smith, 1974. Socializing functions of primate play.Amer. Zool., 14: 275–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rensch, B. &G. Dücker, 1961. Die Spiele von Mungo und Ichneumon.Behaviour, 14: 185–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothe, H., 1975. Some aspects of sexuality and reproduction in groups of captive marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).Z. Tierpsychol., 37: 255–273.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rumbaugh, D. M., 1974. Comparative primate learning and its contributions to understanding development, play, intelligence, and language. In:Perspectives in Primate Biology, vol. 9,B. Chiarelli (ed.), Plenum Press, pp. 253–281.

  • Sachs, L., 1971.Statistische Auswertungsmethoden. 3rd ed., Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg & New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sade, D. S., 1972. Sociometrics ofMacaca mulatta: I. Linkages and cliques in grooming matrices.Folia primat., 18: 196–223.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmied, A., 1973.Thalartos maritimus. Spielen, IWF, Göttingen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, P., 1972. Behavior ofLeontopithecus rosalia (the Golden Lion Marmoset) and related species: A review. In:Saving the Lion Marmoset, Proceedings of the Wild Animal Propagation Trust: Golden Lion Marmoset Conference,D. D. Bridgwater (ed.), WAPT, Wheeling, pp. 23–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suomi, S. J. &H. F. Harlow, 1971. Monkeys at play.Nat. Hist., 80 (10): 72–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tembrock, G., 1957/58. Spielverhalten beim Rotfuchs.Zool. Beitr., 3: 423–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1968.Grundriss der Verhaltenswissenschaften. Fischer, Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1971.Biokommunikation. part 1. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin, a.o.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinbergen, N., 1966.Instinktlehre: Vergleichende Erforschung angeborenen Verhaltens. 4th ed., Parey, Berlin, & Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Washburn, S. C. &D. A. Hamburg, 1965. The implications of primate research. In:Primate Behavior,I. DeVore (ed.), Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, New York, pp. 607–629.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welker, W. I., 1961. An analysis of exploratory and play behavior in animals. In:Functions of Varied Experience,D. W. Fiske &S. R. Maddi (eds.), The Dorsey Press, Homewood, pp. 175–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1971. Ontogeny of play and exploratory behaviors: A definition of problems and a search for new conceptual solutions. In:The Ontogeny of Vertebrate Behavior,H. Moltz (ed.), Academic Press, New York & London, pp. 171–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wemmer, C. &M. J. Fleming, 1974. Ontogeny of playful contact in a social mangoose, the Meerkat,Suricata suricatta. Amer. Zool., 14: 415–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, S. C. &D. G. Kleiman, 1974. Eliciting play: A comparative study (Octodon, Octodontomys, Pediolagus, Phoca, Choeropsis, Ailuropoda).Amer. Zool., 14: 341–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, M., in prep. Zur Ontogenie der Lautäußerungen des WeißbüscheläffchensCallithrix jacchus Erxleben, 1777.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Göttingen, Germany

    Eckart Voland

  2. Lehrstuhl für Anthropologie der Universität, 34 Göttingen, Bürgerstrasse 50, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    Eckart Voland

Authors
  1. Eckart Voland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Voland, E. Social play behavior of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus Erxl., 1777) in captivity. Primates 18, 883–901 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02382938

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02382938

Keywords

Search

Navigation