title: Twinning in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella): rate, survivorship, and weight gain.
abstract: We calculated the rate of twinning across four captive collections of tufted capuchins (Cebus apella) to be 2.4%. This rate contrast with previous reports that twinning in tufted capuchins is rare. Additionally, we present data on the survival and weight gain of twins in this species as compared to singletons. Twins face their greatest risk of mortality on or before the first day of life, when 45% will die compared to 16% of singletons. After the first day of life, twins and singletons demonstrate comparable survival rates. This, in conjunction with the finding that at no time during the first year of life do twins and singletons differ significantly in their weights, suggests that twinning is a viable reproductive form for these animals, especially in the captive setting where nutritional demands are met.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA. kleighty@arches.uga.edu
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Leighty
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Dorothy M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fragaszy
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Visalberghi
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welker
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lussier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002428:Cebus / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D038522:Twinning, Monozygotic / Q000502:physiology*