title: Reproductive performance in a breeding colony of Brazilian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).
abstract: In a captive colony of Brazilian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) a discrete birth season has been retained for 5 years although its duration increased from 3 months in 1972 to 6 months in 1976. The ages of breeder females in this colony ranged from 3 to 14 years, and within this range reproductive performance was not affected by age, although it was significantly better in feral than in colony-born females. The latter had a lower pregnancy rate and a higher incidence of neonatal and fetal deaths than did the feral monkeys. It is our belief that the reproductive and maternal capabilities of the colony-born females were adversely affected by the practice of removing neonates from their mothers at weaning and raising them with age-mates.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000662:veterinary; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000502:physiology*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D012453:Saimiri / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons