The range of the silvery marmoset is south and east of the Amazon basin. The animal is aboreal (lives or spends lots of time in trees), and that limits the opportunities for predators. The harpy eagle patrols the tree tops, and can easily snatch one of these New World monkeys if it gets the chance. There are also a couple of other large birds of prey in the area that will take a marmoset if given a chance. It is possible though unusual for a constrictor (snake) to take a marmoset. Two wild canines, small South American members of the dog family, the bush dog and the short-eared dog, pose a hazard when the marmoset is on the ground. Though a tree dweller, the marmoset does come to the ground now and then. Perhaps a bit more so now that development of plantations in the area is changing the biome. When it temporarily leaves the trees, the jaguar may be able to approach it, and this big cat can kill the marmoset without any difficulty. The cougar (or puma), though not present in the area in large numbers, will kill a marmoset if it can. So will the range of smaller wild members of the cat family that live there. These include the ocelot and tiger cat which hunt mostly on the ground. The small powerhouse cats like the jaguarundiand the margay are superb climbers, and will come after the marmoset in its forest canopy home. The bulk of the threats to the silvery marmoset are posed by the big birds of prey and the small cats that can hunt the canopy where the marmoset spends much of its time.
