Marmosets and tamarins share many characteristics that are unusual for monkeys. They are small, squirrel-like, and monogamous. Sexes are similar in appearance, they usually have twins instead of single births, and the fathers provide extensive care for their young.
The Pygmy Marmoset is the smallest living monkey. Its head and body length varies from 117-152 mm and its tail length varies from 172-229 mm. That's a total length of around 13 inches on average. The adult weight is in the range 85-140 grams or approximately four ounces on average. Its tawny coat is sprinkled with gray and its tail is ringed. Long hairs on its head and cheeks form a mane which hides its ears. Its eyes are almond-shaped.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:
This species inhabits upper Amazonia in South America, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil. It prefers riverside and floodplain forests.
BEHAVIOR:
It lives in social groups as large as 15, comprised of a breeding pair and their offspring. A group defends its home range of less than an acre, and visits about one-third of its range each day. Defense involves bouts of calling, chasing and displaying of their distinct white genitals.
Scent marking, prolonged mutual grooming, facial expressions and high-pitched vocalizations are among their other modes of communication.
Its claws and small size allow it to cling to vertical trunks and branches.
DIET:
Pygmy Marmosets regularly gouge oval-shaped one-inch holes in tree bark; then they consume the gums and saps which the trees exude from these wounds. The animals spend up to 67% of their feeding time gouging trees. Spiders and insects are also important in their diet, and they occasionally eat fruits.
Seven larger marmoset species are also specialized gum eaters.
REPRODUCTION and GROWTH
Non-identical twins are usual after a 136 day gestation.
Only one female in a social group breeds and raises young. Older siblings may remain in the group, even when adult, without breeding. They and the father help care for the young which are completely dependent for the first two weeks of their lives. By the age of two months they can travel independently; they reach puberty at 12-18 months and adult size at two years of age.
Under suitable conditions, a female can produce twins about every five months.
In captivity, a Pygmy Marmoset can live over 11 years.
