Do wild tamarins reconcile? Two case reports from moustached tamarins

Abstract

Mechanisms of conflict resolution, e.g. reconciliation, have been reported from a number of group-living animals, particularly primates. However, whether or not conflict resolution occurs in the cooperatively breeding callitrichids (marmosets and tamarins) remains a matter of debate. Captive studies provide contrasting evidence for the occurrence of reconciliation, and no evidence has been previously available for wild groups. Here, I present data on post-conflict behaviour in wild moustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax, which suggest that reconciliation occurs among wild callitrichids, too. However, reconciliation seems to occur very rarely among these primates, probably due to the generally peaceful nature of their social relations.