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This study reports on the longitudinal changes in scent marking frequencies of male and female lion tamarins in relation to age, reproductive status, and group composition. Juvenile males and females in family groups and subordinate males in trios (2 males, 1 female) scent marked infrequently. Juvenile females scent marked less than juvenile males and began scent marking later. Adult pair-bonded males and females scent marked with similar frequencies. Females showed scent marking increases during mid-pregnancy, but their scent marking decreased both before and again after parturition. Both males and females exhibited decreases in scent marking while transporting dependent infants.

Captive L. rosalia were observed to exchange food routinely in family groups, a process varying from donation to theft. Donation involved the use of 'invitational' signals which operated most efficiently in parent-infant sharing and in donating live prey. Food moved, by sharing and theft, toward: (a) males prior to the female's first conception; (b) females during late pregnancy; (c) carriers of infants; (d) weanlings; (e) juveniles when infants died; (f) third animals in trios, regardless of their age and relatedness to the pair. Successful reproduction, a complex behavior involving all group members in cooperative infant care and provisioning, is probably enhanced by captive L. rosalia's food-sharing habits.