Reproductive parameters of a captive colony of capuchin monkeys (Cebus Apella) from 1984 to 2006

This paper presents the results of a demographic analysis of 22 years of data recorded on a colony of tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in captivity at the CNR Primate Centre (Rome, Italy). Information is provided on reproduction, sex ratio, inter-birth interval (IBI), seasonality, and body weight. From 1984 to 2006, 46 live births were recorded. There were births in almost all months of the year, but a higher frequency was observed during spring and summer (71.1%). The sex ratio was 1:1 M:F for newborns and 1:1.06 M:F for surviving offspring. At birth, infants' average weight was 238.13 +/- 37.51 g, i.e. 250 +/- 56.79 g for males and 231 +/- 26.08 g for females. Age at first birth for females ranged from 4.9 to 7 years (n = 9), while males achieved first paternity between the ages of 5 and 9.2 years (n = 6). Only one pair of twins was recorded during this period. For females, the mean IBI was 17.88 +/- 1.84 months, when they reared infants, and 12.70 +/- 1.73 months, when they did not rear offspring. Infant mortality within the first 2 months was 28.3%.