Sample Ethogram:

     This ethogram contains the operational definitions and letter codes for all social and solitary behaviors that appear on the sample scan sheet.  Also included is a description of each matrix of the sample bout sheet and an operational definition of the behaviors that apply,  including a specification of an initiator and a recipient if needed.

Solitary Activity

Code

Operational Definition

Off exhibit/nest box

O

One, but usually all, tamarins are off exhibit and not visible inside the nest box.

Eating/Drinking

E

The tamarin is involved in the process of actively taking in food.  This behavior includes eating, chewing, examining or holding food

Maintenence

M

Any of a number of behaviors including excretion of feces and urine, autogrooming and scratching

Scentmarking

T

The tamarin rubs its anogenital, pubic, or back region along any surface.  This occurs in a sitting, sprawling, or dorsal position.  This behavior can be performed in a sitting or sliding motion on the object being scented.  This behavior was also scored as a bout of a specific type of scent mark in the matrix provided.

Climbing/Jumping

C

The tamarin is in the process of navigating its way through the enclosure by way of branches of trees, vines, or the cieling of the cage.  This activity can occur slowly or rapidly in a running motion.  When jumping, the tamarin is in the air in a leaping motion, with all of its forelimbs off the ground in a stretched position.

Exploring

X

The tamarin is actively involved in exploring its environment by observation.  This is typically scored when the tamarin is in a sitting position.

Foraging

F

The tamarin is actively involved in the process of locating food, either on the ground, or on the platform.  The tamarin picks through the mulch while staring intently at the ground in search of insects or fallen food.

Out of View

N

A keeper working in the cage or a piece of cage furniture obstructs the tamarin from view of the observer.  This category also includes the inability of the observer to recognize the individual tamarin due to the blockage of the dyemark used for recognition.  This does not include when the tamarin is in the nest box.

Bouts

Affiliated Matrix-these bouts were used to score activity between two tamarins or between a tamarin and a human.  Therefore, this behavior required an initiator and a recipient.  It included activities that demonstrated non-aggressive and playful behavior.

Behavior

Operational Definition

Touch/tug

The tamarin, using one or both of its forelimbs, gently touches or pulls on the body of the recipient in a playful manor.  This behavior is usually performed on the initiators part, to attract the attention of the recipient, who remains calm through the process.

Allogrooming

A tamarin, using its fingers and/or mouth, picks through the coat of another tamarin.  Usually, the recipient of this activity is in a sprawled position while the process is occuring.

Social Play

The tamarins engage in playful activity with one another, such as touching, tugging, running, chasing, or swatting one another.  This category also includes interaction with humans.  This activity was considered a joint activity, and was scored only once.

Approach

A tamarin moves towards the location of another tamarin or human in a fairly slow, non-aggressive manor.

Follow

A tamarin deliberately moves in the same direction of another tamarin to a specific location in the cage, usually the nest box.

Aggression Matrix-this matrix contains premeditated pursuit of another tamarin or human in an offensive manor directed at the recipient.

Chase

A tamarin rapidly follows another tamarin through the enclosure with the recipient purposefully avoiding its pursuit.

Mock Bite

A tamarin opens its mouth widely towards the recipient to impersonate a hostile bite.  During this behavior, the teeth of the initiator may or may not pierce the skin of the recipient, who commonly stays in proximity of the initiator.

Bite

The initiating tamarin opens its mouth, exposes its teeth, and penetrates the skin of the recipient.  This behavior causes the recipient to leave the area of the initiator almost immediately.

Push/Pull

A tamarin, using its forelimbs, forcefully knocks the recipient tamarin out of their stance, usually falling on a surface.  The initiator will then proceed to roll over or pin down the recipient until movement ceases.

Move Away/Avoid Matrix-this matrix includes both aggressive and non-aggressive movements.  In this matrix, the initiator is the tamarin performing the movement.

Move Away

A tamarin moves directly away from the position of another tamarin.  This cannot be caused by a number of behaviors and it is usually performed in a calm manor.

Avoid

A tamarin abrubtly moves out of the path of another tamarin.

Food Matrix-this involves any two tamarins that are involved in the process of eating

Offer food to other

A tamarin that is eating or foraging for food, presents a piece of their food to another tamarin.

Take food from other

A tamarin that is being presented with food, willingly takes the food from the other tamarin.  This category also includes when a tamarin takes food from another without being invited to do so.

Scent marking Matrix-this matrix lacks both an initiator and a recipient, and instead reflects the number of times a tamarin scent mark occurs.

Suprapubic

The suprapubic scent mark occurs when the tamarin is in a sprawled out position, with flexed limbs and a stretched tail.  The tamarin will then slide the pubic region back and forth across the surface of the substrate.

Anogenital

The anogenital scent mark occurs in a sitting position, while the tamarin rubs the anogenital region in a circular fashion along the surface of an object.

Back

The tamarin stands bipedal and rubs its back vertically along the wall of the exhibit or a long object