Pygmy Marmoset

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pygmy Marmoset[1]

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cebidae
Genus: Callithrix
Subgenus: Cebuella
Species: C. pygmaea
Binomial name
Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea
Spix, 1823

The Pygmy Marmoset (Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea) is a monkey native to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and eastern Peru. It is one of the smallest primates, and the smallest monkey, with its body length ranging from 14-16 cm (excluding the 15-20 cm tail). Males weigh around 140 g (5 ounces), and females only 120 g (4.2 ounces).

Despite its name, the Pygmy Marmoset is somewhat different from the typical marmosets classified in genus Callithrix. As such, it is accorded its own subgenus, which was formerly recognized as its own genus, Cebuella.

The Pygmy Marmoset has a tawny coat, and a ringed tail that can be as long as its body. Their claws are specially adapted for climbing trees, a trait unique to the species. They are omnivorous, feeding on fruit, leaves, insects, and sometimes even small reptiles. Their small weight allows them to reach the very highest leaves of a tree, and to exploit the otherwise little- used food sources there. Much of their diet, however, comes from tapping trees for sap. Up to two-thirds of their time is spent gouging tree bark to reach the gummy sap. The Pygmy Marmoset has specialized incisors for gouging holes in bark. Unfortunately, because of its small size, and its swift movements, it is very hard to observe in the wild.

In captivity, the Pygmy Marmoset can live up to 11 years.

There are two subspecies of the Pygmy Marmoset:

  • Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea pygmaea
  • Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea niveiventris

[edit] References

  1. ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 132. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ Rylands, A.B. (2003). Cebuella pygmaea. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-08.

[edit] External links

Wikispecies has information related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Olive Baboon This primate-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.