The New World primates are becoming widely used in scientific and
medical work in fields from anthropology to zoology, behaviour to
urology. They have unique attributes for studies in cancer, infectious
diseases, genetics, virology and reproduction. However, it is only now
that their reproductive physiology is being clarified in any depth and
this book is a first synthesis of that knowledge. The nine authors
involved in this project have presented an up to date account of the
major New World species used in biological and medical science. In
addition to their distribution and conservation in the wild, essential
biological data from laboratory studies are presented on reproductive
cycles, gestation length, seasonal breeding, puberty and other factors.
The major applications of these species in research are explored.
Whenever possible, research workers should steer away from using
endangered species in their studies. The New World monkeys used in
research in any numbers are still fairly common n the wild, yet their
greatest advantages are n their smalle size and high fecundity. This
makes possible the establishment of self sustaining captive breeding
colonies at a fraction of the time and cost necessary for the more
conventional Old World laboratory primates. Consequently the drain on
wild stocks need not be extensive as only breeding nuclei should be
necessary.
