Animals / Mammals / Types of Monkeys / Pygmy Marmoset
Pygmy Marmoset
Baby Pygmy Marmosets
These are the smallest monkeys in the world although there are some primates that are bit smaller (pygmy mouse lemurs and pygmy tarsiers). The body weight of adults in the wild averages only 4 ounces! Which means they might be hard to observe in the wild as they tiny enough to be high-up in the trees on small branches. Up there, they have to be on the lookout for birds of prey. They are able to jump more than 16 ft (5 m)! Quite a distance for such a small monkey.
They inhabit the Amazon rain forest in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. They scramble about like squirrels in the deep rain forest and drink the sap of trees. Since they are so tiny they can climb very high up in the trees on slender branches to find untapped sources of food - the sap and gum of trees. Ever see gum arabic listed in the ingredients of food products? It is a commercially available exudate from acacia trees that these little monkeys are happy to eat straight without any mixers. They also like to eat grasshoppers.
They communicate by making high pitched clicks, squeaks, whistles and trills. In fact they can make noises that are so high pitch that humans can't even hear them. They do have a language of sorts, where certain types of calls and squeaks signify danger or other important monkey communications.
Here is a good look at the hands. Is that a pane of glass or is he/she that good at playing mime? As new world monkeys they do not have opposable thumbs. Photo Source - Joachim S Mueller
Male pygmy marmosets may make displays of strength and prowess when confronted by other males and competing for territory. They do this by raising and flattening their ear tufts, arching their backs, grimacing while eyeing each other and displaying their genitals. Females usually give birth to two and sometimes three babies.
These monkeys are not good pets as they do bite and throw feces. In captivity they are not happy away from their families and are hard to care for. (Also see Monkeys for Sale)
Read about the birth of Abino Pygmy Marmoset Twins
Be sure to check the video from the Bronx Zoo to see some marmosets in action.
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