Pygmy MarmosetMore Than Meets the Eye

(Photo Courtesy San Diego Zoo 2015)Cindy HenryBio: 123 575Animal Behavior

Description

Classification: Callithrix pygmaea

Smallest monkey in the world Average 5.35 in (12 in with tail)

& 4.2 oz Females slightly larger than

males Average lifespan = 12 years

(Photo Courtesy Luis Claudio Marigo)

Description (cont.)—Physical Attributes Brownish-gold fur Black ticking on shoulders, back,

head Ventral fur is light yellow to white Tails longer than bodies—marked

with black rings Not prehensile (capable of grasping)

Mane of hair covers forehead and ears

White marks on both sides of mouth and stripe down nose

(Photo Courtesy Monkey Worlds 2014)

Description (cont.)—Physical Attributes Elongated, narrow incisors Claw-like nails (tegulae)

Do not have opposable thumbs Leap 15 ft Turn head 180 degrees

Predatory defense ability

(Photo Courtesy San Diego Zoo 2015)

Habitat

Native to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil

Live in evergreen forests and edge of river floodplains

Keep to vertical sections near ground level to about 65ft

Home range about 2.5 acres Home ranges of nearby groups

do not overlap Groups will exchange home

ranges once a group leaves a given area

(Google Maps 2015)

Communication Use vocal cues, visual

indicators, and scent Use different vocal cues to

communicate different information Squeaky, closed mouth trills to

recognize group members Soft, twittery chirps to indicate

submission Loud, open mouth trills to signal

alarm(Video Courtesy BBC, Found at Atheist Planet Blog 2010) Skip to 5:30-6:15 to hear calls of the pygmy marmoset encountering another group.Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSVF4CuXYno

Feeding Patterns/Diet Exuditavore-insectivore

Feed on gum, sap, insects 60 to 80% of their total feeding time is spent

on exudates, 12 to 16% on insects Uses elongated incisors to make circular

holes in tree to extract sap/gum Will feed from the same tree until it no

longer yields exudates Can make up to 1,300 holes in a single tree move between trees within their home range

Two peaks of feeding over the course of a day 6:00am-9:00am 3:00pm-6:00pm

(Video Courtesy National Geographic 2012) See how pygmy marmosets feed on trees and prey on insects.

Direct link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okoq04AocBk

Natural Enemies

Most common predators: several birds of prey small wildcats climbing snakes capuchin monkeys Tayras

Fur acts as camouflage in their surroundings

Common feeding competition: Saddleback and mustached

tamarins Feed from holes made by

marmosets Ants

Carry solidified gum from the trees

Social Behavior

Tight knit group—typically consists of 2 to 9 members: Dominant male and female Their offspring Occasional unrelated members

Use sleeping sites as a group, travel together and feed.

Between feedings, they engage in grooming, huddling, and playing together

All interactions are internal/exclusive to group (Photo Courtesy San Diego Zoo 2015)

Reproduction

Monogamous Dominant male and female that

produce offspring Studies indicate females use

olfactory cues/behavior to convey reproductive state

Gestation period: 4.5 months Give birth to non-identical twins Newborns weigh .5oz at birth

(Photo Courtesy Frösö Zoo 2006) Two albino pygmy marmosets shown shorty after birth.

Reproduction (cont.)—Infant care Maternal duties are minimal—limited to

nursing, anogenital licking, protection against predators

All other duties fall on father, siblings, and group members: 24 hours after birth, these members are

responsible for carrying all of the young Infants weaned after 3 months Reach sexual maturity around 1.5

years, reach adult weight at 2 years Juvenile members remain with group

for 2 consecutive birth cycles May leave to find another group or start their

own

(Video Courtesy Houston Zoo 2009) A pygmy marmoset father carries his offspring.

Direct link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerP_2lvqJ0

Conservation

‘Least concern’ on the IUCN Red List

Biggest threats: habitat loss

several known regions protected to prevent deforestation

exotic pet trade US banned import of primates,

most South American countries have banned primate exporting

(Video Courtesy Rare Species Conservatory Foundation 2013) Meet Nanita, a deaf pygmy marmoset raised in captivity after being rejected by her mother.

Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6ZM2Q-D0b8

Research

Very limited research available Due to their small size and regions they are found

First long-term field study conducted by Pekka Soini provided most of the knowledge currently available on the species

Ongoing studies on pygmy marmosets in captivity Studying behavior, reproduction, communication