Fascinating Facts About Pygmy Marmoset

January 29, 2014

Fascinating Facts About Pygmy Marmoset

1. “Marmoset” comes from the French “marmouset” meaning “shrimp” or “dwarf”.Despite its small size the pygmy marmoset can make long horizontal leaps up to 16 feet and also clings and leaps vertically. Vocalizations include a trill for communication, a high sharp warning whistle and a clicking sound for threats.

2. The Pygmy Marmoset is the smallest primate in the world. It is so small it fits into a human palm.

3. The Pygmy Marmoset has speckled, tawny fur and a hood of hair on its head. Like other marmosets, the Pygmy Marmoset has claw-like nails that help them to climb. The tail is 17–23 cm long, which is longer than the body, and marked with black rings

4. They gouge 10 or more new holes out of tree bark every day and return to these, and older holes, at different times to collect and eat the gum the tree produces. They also eat flower nectar, fruit, grubs and spiders.

5. They travel in troops of 5–10 and there is one breeding pair per troop. Older offspring usually carry the younger offspring. When they are under attack, the whole group will mob an intruder, loudly vocalising and
attacking until it retreats. At other times, they will remain still until the threat has passed.

6. Predators of Pygmy Marmosets include raptors (birds of prey), small cats and snakes.

7. Pygmy Marmosets are at most risk from the loss of their natural rainforest habitat in South America. Threats to this species include logging for the timber industry, land clearing for agriculture and the illegal pet trade.

8. Dominance is maintained through posturing (acting like you are bigger, stronger, or angry) ,making noises and calls. The group that isn’t in power will groom their superiors

9. The life span is about ten years in the wild and 16 years in captivity.

10. A common feature of all marmosets is their specialized teeth, which allow them to gouge holes in trees to induce the flow of sap and gum. They anchor their upper incisors in the bark and gouge upwards with their
chisel-like lower incisors. Their small size and claw-like nails are important adaptations that enable them to cling to vertical trunks and branches. They differ from other New World monkeys by having modified claws rather than nails on all digits except the big toe. They do not have an opposable thumb.