Pygmy marmosets live in low plants underneath tall trees in tropical forests. Their days are spent climbing through the thick vegetation in search of food, such as insects, fruit, flower buds, small lizards and tree sap. Their lower canine teeth are specially shaped to gouge holes in tree bark to get to the sap.
Pygmy marmosets are found in northern South America (upper Amazon Basin), living in rainforests that are seasonally flooded. The pygmy marmoset is the world’s smallest monkey and is rarely seen on the forest floor, instead moving carefully through the treetops to avoid being attacked by birds of prey.
Pygmy Marmoset Facts – Current Taxonomy
Current taxonomy of the pygmy marmoset is:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Primates
- Genus: Cebuella
- Species: C. pygmaea
There are two sub-species of pygmy marmoset; the Eastern Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea niveiventris) and the Western Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella Cebuella pygmaea).
Pygmy Marmoset Facts – Behavior and Reproduction
Pygmy marmosets live in small family groups that range in size from two to around 9. The average family group is closer to five or six with the two parents and their offspring sleeping together huddled in branches. Sexual maturity is reached around 1.5-2 years of age and breeding pairs can mate at any time. Litters of 1-3 are usually born in June or December, however, and it is not uncommon for twins to be born. As new marmosets are born, the father and older siblings share the responsibilities and will carry the babies on their backs.
Aside from searching for food and evading any predators (such as birds of prey), pygmy marmosets spend their days much like other primates by playing and grooming each other.
Pygmy Marmoset Facts
- The word marmoset comes from a French word and means dwarf or shrimp.
- The pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world. Adults reach 11-15cm (4.5-6in) in size and weigh 100-140g (0.22-.03lb).
- The lifespan of the pygmy marmoset is approximately 10 years.
- Generally in marmoset groups, only the head male and female will breed.
- Marmosets have prehensile tails and specialized claws to help them climb trees.
- Pygmy marmosets have around 10 types of vocal communication which are used for general communication and to alert other marmosets of threats. These vocalizations range from clicks, trills, long calls and warning whistles.
There are several marmoset species that are endangered but the pygmy marmoset is not one of them; they would be considered fairly common and are very good at adapting to changes in their habitat due to human intrusions. You may also be interested in reading The World’s Five Smallest Mammals and The World’s Five Largest Mammals.
Reference: Marmoset Facts and Smallest Monkey in the World
Roberta Goli - Roberta has a Bachelor of Science Degree (Zoology), has worked with animals for over 10 years and enjoys writing short stories and flash ...
