Immediate, but no delayed, behavioral response to a snake model by captive black tufted-ear marmosets

Whether callitrichids are naturally capable of detecting and responding to predators – or if such skills are learned – remains a controversial issue, with results differing in terms of species, predator and encounter conditions. Therefore, the behavioral response of naïve adult captive black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) was assessed before, during, 0 and 4 h after a 5-min encounter with a snake and flower model. Using a two-phase cross-over design, marmosets (n = 16) were submitted to one trial for each stimulus, divided into four 5-min intervals: pre-exposure, exposure and post-exposure observations held 0 and 4 h later. The snake exposure increased the number of gazes made towards the stimulus and the time cage-mates spent close to each other, as well as induced tsik-tsik alarm/mobbing calls, while inhibiting foraging and decreasing the time spent near the snake's location. After the snake was removed, all changes were immediately reversed. Mobbing was not observed. The flower stimulus only increased direct gazes and time spent in proximity during its presentation. All marmosets were captive-born and snake-naïve yet had recently been confronted with a cat stimulus in a previous experiment. Thus, previous experiences with snakes may be required for marmosets to fully develop appropriate immediate and long-term responses.

► Mobbing behavior was not observed in snake-naïve marmosets. ► Snake exposure altered ongoing behaviors regardless of when event took place. ► Snake removal immediately restored behaviors. ► Flower model was not perceived as threatening. ► Appropriate immediate and long-term reactions to snakes may be learned responses.