| Although research investigating human personality types is plentiful, research on animals have been more reticent to assign personality types. However, recently more research has been published that successfully identified personality types in a variety of animal species and has used personality information to investigate ecological relationships, mating preferences, and aid in captive animal welfare. This study was conducted to identify personality types in the 25 callimicos (Callimico goeldii) in a colony at Brookfield Zoo. Research ensued over eight months using focal animals and instantaneous scan-sampling of behaviors. Principal component analysis elucidated five personality types among individual callimicos. These behavioral types were: neophobic, opportunistic, cooperative, vigilant, and active/exploratory. Given the behavioral ecology of wild callimicos and their neophobic nature in captivity, behaviors of individual animals loaded into sensible personality types. By becoming familiar with unique behavioral profiles of callimicos in this captive environment, husbandry staff can tailor husbandry practices to particular individuals in their care. |
