Its range stretches across the Andean foothills of southern Colombia and southeastern Peru, and reaches eastward through northern Bolivia and into the Amazon Basin of Brazil. The taxon is divided into two subspecies: Callithrix pygmaea niveiventris and Callithrix pygmaea pygmaea. Eastern pygmy marmosets, C. Western pygmy marmosets C. Pygmy marmosets thrive in multistratal river-edge forests at lower elevations. They typically dwell in the vertical strata of the understory rather than in the upper layers of the forest, avoiding both the forest floor and heights greater than 18 m above ground.
Pygmy marmosets have also been observed inhabiting secondary forests. Pygmy marmosets are the smallest extant monkeys, with an average body length of 13 cm. Infants initially have grey heads and yellow coats covered with black ticking, but exhibit the adult pattern within the first month of life. Though pygmy marmosets are not considered sexually dimorphic, females may be slightly heavier than males. Longer hair around the face and neck gives C.
Their hindlimbs are longer than their forelimbs, and their digits have claws known as tegulae. The halluces are an exception, as they possess flat nails known as ungulae. The average adult tail, typically marked with black bands, has a length of approximately 20 cm.
Pygmy marmoset incisors are elongated and sharp, a likely adaptation to their diet of gums and sap. The similar eastern and western subspecies are difficult to differentiate, but sometimes exhibit dissimilar ventral hair color.
Groups of C. Pygmy marmosets are generally regarded as monogamous; dominant males have even been observed aggressively maintaining exclusive access to reproductive females. Polyandry has been observed, however, in groups with multiple males. No correlation has been observed in pygmy marmosets between number of adult males and number of offspring.
Female pygmy marmosets may give birth to 1 to 3 offspring, but most frequently give birth to fraternal twins. Approximately 3 weeks after giving birth, females enter a postpartum estrus during which mating occurs. With a gestation period of about 4.
Pygmy marmosets have an extremely cooperative system of infant care, and only one dominant female per group produces offspring. Newborn pygmy marmosets weigh approximately 16 g.
After nursing for approximately 3 months and reaching sexual maturity within a year to a year and a half, they reach their adult weight around age 2. Juveniles typically remain with their group until two subsequent birth cycles have passed. Callithrix pygmaea is the only callitrichine known to exhibit, in a sexual context, genital presenting among females and tongue protrusion and vibrating among males.
Pygmy marmosets, like most callitrichines, are well known for sharing their parental duties. The father, the siblings of the new offspring, and even unrelated male group members have been observed carrying, grooming, and providing food for newborns. In a study observing six groups of captive pygmy marmosets, the father did the vast majority of the carrying in 5 of the groups within 4 weeks after birth. Maternal duties were limited to nursing, anogenital licking, and protective retrieval in threatening situations—newborn pygmy marmosets begin gaining independence away from caretakers around three weeks of age, though on average they are not weaned until 3 months of age.
Data concerning the longevity of wild pygmy marmosets is limited; however, birds of prey, small felids, and climbing snakes are common predators. The lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus LCMV , carried by the common mouse, has resulted in multiple deadly outbreaks of callitrichid hepatitis CH among captive pygmy marmosets across North America since the s. Callithrix pygamaeus has an arboreal and diurnal lifestyle. Individuals are known to groom each other, likely as a form of bonding.
While such docile and friendly interactions are commonly observed, pygmy marmosets are also very territorial, using scent glands to mark territories of up to acres in area. Pygmy marmosets choose sleeping sites proximate to their feeding source at the time, and all group members awake and exit shortly after sunrise. Social activities are prominent between two feeding peaks—one after waking up, and the other in the late afternoon that leads into retirement to the sleeping site.
Studies of wild pygmy marmosets in Bolivia suggest that they prefer clinging to vertical strata with their sharp claws while feeding, whereas quadrupedalism appears to be the preferred form of locomotion for travel. Pygmy marmosets generally exhibit a home range of approximately 0. Pygmy marmosets communicate via visual cues, scents, and vocalizations. White markings on the cheeks and a vertical stripe on the nose likely facilitate visual communication.
Pygmy marmosets use scents to mark areas ranging from 25 to acres. To the human ear, pygmy marmoset vocalizations resemble bird calls, and can even enter the ultrasonic spectrum. Loud, open mouth trills signal alarm, such as in the case of an encroaching predator. Squeaky, closed mouth trills are used for contact calls which allow pygmy marmosets to recognize each other.
Soft twittering is a sign of submission. Studies on wild marmosets have suggested that pygmy marmosets vocalize in such a manner as to appropriate the effects of the acoustics of their locality.
Sometimes they have single births or triplets, but these are less common. The exception is the Goeldi's monkey. It does not have twins. The gestation period is four to six months. Male marmosets are often the main caregivers of the offspring and stay loyal to their family. They won't leave, even when tempted by a sexually mature female. Marmosets are monogamous. The youngsters in the troop help the male with the care of the babies.
Just being around a monogamous pair of marmosets will prevent younger ones from sexually maturing. So, they must leave their group to mate, but typically, just the monogamous female in the troop will conceive in a year. The buffy-headed marmoset is the only marmoset listed as endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. It is estimated that there are only around 2, mature individuals left. Many species are listed as vulnerable.
Some of these include Goeldi's marmoset, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset, the black-crowned dwarf marmoset and Rondon's marmoset. Wied's marmoset is listed as near threatened. It is thought that the species has lost 20 to 25 percent of its population over the past 18 years.
It takes them about two years to grow as large as the adults. They may leave the troop at this point to start a family of their own, or they may stay to help raise the newest babies.
Pygmy marmosets communicate with each other by chattering and trilling in high-pitched voices. Certain squeaks and calls express danger or other urgent monkey messages. They also make faces to express emotions like contentment, surprise, or fear by moving their lips, eyelids, ears, and the hair around their face. We humans do that, too! These mini monkeys groom one another, and that helps establish social bond.
They are fussy about keeping their fur in good shape. Pygmy marmoset families have territories marked by scent. This signals neighboring troops to leave each other alone. If the current rate of habitat destruction can be slowed, these tiny monkeys will have a big chance at long-term survival in their forest home.
Their largest threat is the pet trade, due to their tiny size, cuddly appearance, and appealing face. We cannot express this enough: monkeys do not make good pets. The United States has banned the import of primates, and most South American countries don't allow primate exports anymore. By supporting San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, you are our ally in saving and protecting wildlife worldwide.
The pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey but not the smallest primate—that title belongs to the mouse lemur. Main menu. Search form Search. Callithrix pygmaea. Calla Lily. Staghorn Fern. Kangaroo Paw.
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