Pygmy marmoset
Cebuella pygmaea
TAXONOMY
Jacchus pygmaeus Spix, 1823, Tabatinga, Brazil. Two subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Ouistiti mignon; German; Zwergseidenaffe; Spanish: Leoncito (Peru, Ecuador), mono de bolsillo (Colombia).
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Average male weight: 3.9 oz (110 g), female weight: 4.3 oz (122 g); head and body length: 5.4–6 in (13.6–15.2 cm); tail length: 6.8–9 in (17.2–22.9 cm). Coat is yellow-brown; tail has faint rings. It is the smallest New World monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Western Amazonia, south of the rivers Caquetá and Solimões and west of the Rio Madeira.
HABITAT
Tropical rainforest, prefers seasonally inundated and riverine forest.
BEHAVIOR
Groups include 2–9 individuals, with usually a single adult pair and their offspring. Both sexes disperse from their natal group. They occupy very small home ranges (0.25–1.25 acres; 0.1–0.5 ha), which are shifted once the exudate yield of the principal feeding tree has dropped below a critical level. Neighboring home ranges are usually not contagious. Genital display is used as an aggressive signal towards other individuals (both within and between groups) and human observers.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
They feed mostly on exudates of over 60 plant species and on arthropods; fruits are of little importance. They gouge 0.4–0.8 in (10–20 mm) wide and 0.2–0.7 in (4–18 mm) deep holes into the bark with specialized dentition to stimulate exudate flow. Foraging for prey in the crowns of small-to medium-sized trees often occurs, but occasionally they also forage on the forest floor.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Usually monogamous. Estrus cycle duration is 27–28 days, gestation length is 135–146 days. Births occur throughout the year, but peak around May-June and October-January. Infants are carried by mothers and other group members, but also parked at safe sites.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Sometimes kept as pets.
| Common name/Scientific name | Physical charecteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Emperor tamarin Saguinus imperator | Hairy face, long white moustache extends to shoulders. Head and body length 6.9–12.2 in (17.5–31 cm), tail length 9.8–17.3 in (25–44 cm). | Can be found in tropical forests, open woodlands, and secondary growth. Groups of 1 to 3 individuals. | Western Brazil and eastern Peru. | Consists of fruit, tender vegetation, insects, spiders, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. | Not threatened |
| Midas tamarin Saguinus midas | Lacks white area around mouth, blackish face, orange or yellowish hands and feet. Head and body length 6.9–12.2 in (17.5–31 cm), tail length 9.8–17.3 in (25–44 cm). | Can be found in tropical forests, open woodlands, and secondary growth. Extremely agile. Small groups of individuals associate together. Groups of 1 to 20 individuals. | Northern Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. | Consists of fruit, tender vegetation, insects, spiders, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. | Not threatened |
| Mottle-faced tamarin Saguinus inustus | Mottle-faced, dense crown of hair except for sides of face, unpigmented face, melanistic pelage. Head and body length 6.9–12.2 in (17.5–31 cm), tail length 9.8–17.3 in (25–44 cm). | Can be found in tropical forests, open woodlands, and secondary growth. Extremely agile. Small groups of individuals associate together. | Northwestern Brazil and southwestern Colombia. | Consists of fruit, tender vegetation, insects, spiders, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. | Not threatened |
| Geoffroy's tamarin Saguinus geoffroyi | Forehead, crown, cheeks, and temples covered with long hairs. Head and body length 6.9–12.2 in (17.5–31 cm), tail length 9.8–17.3 in (25– cm). | Can be found in tropical forests, open woodlands, and secondary growth. Small number of Small groups of individuals associate in groups. | Canal Zone of Panama. | Consists of fruit, tender vegetation, insects, spiders, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. | Not threatened |
| Pied tamarin Saguinus bicolor | Yellowish or white forequarters, grayish brown hindquarters. Bare, black face. Head and body length 6.9–12.2 in (17.5–31 cm), tail length 9.8–17.3 in (25–44 cm). | Can be found in tropical forests, open woodlands, and secondary growth. Three to 12 individuals in a group, tendency toward seasonal reproduction. | Northern Brazil; perhaps northeastern Peru. | Consists of fruit, tender vegetation, insects, spiders, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. | Endangered |
| Golden-rumped lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysopygus | Mostly black, with gold rump and thighs. Head and body length 7.9–13.2 in (20–33.6 cm), tail length 12.4–15.7 in (31.5–40 cm). | Can be found primarily in tropical forests, less commonly found in secondary forest and areas under partial cultivation. Seasonal breeder. | São Paulo region of Brazil. | Mainly insects and fruit but also eats spiders, snails, small lizards, birds' eggs, and small birds. | Critically Endangered |
| Black-faced lion tamarin Leontopithecus caissara | Black face, long silky pelage. Head and body length 7.9–13.2 in (20–33.6 cm), tail length 12.4–15.7 in (31.5–40 cm). | Can be found primarily in tropical forests, less commonly found in secondary forest and areas under partial cultivation. Seasonal breeder. | Superagui Island, Brazil. | Mainly insects and fruit, but also eats spiders, snails, small lizards, birds' eggs, and small birds | Critically Endangered |
| Silvery marmoset Callithrix argentata | Black-tailed or silvery marmoset, fine, silver pelage. Head and body length 7.1–11.8 in (18–30 cm), tail length 6.8–15.9 in (17.2– 40.5 cm). | Can be found in tropical or sub-tropical forests. Diurnal, quick and jerky movements. | Northern and central Brazil, and eastern Bolivia. | Consists of insects, spiders, small vertebrates, birds' eggs, fruit, and tree exudates. | Not threatened |
| Tassel-eared marmoset Callithrix humeralifera | Pelage is whitish, back is black and flecked with white. Tail is black, underparts orange. Head and body length 7.1–11.8 in (18–30 cm), tail length 6.8–15.9 in (17.2– 40.5 cm). | Can be found in tropical or subtropical forests. Diurnal, quick and jerky movements. | Brazil, between Madeira and Tapajós Rivers, south of the Amazon. | Consists of insects, spiders, small vertebrates, birds' eggs, fruit, and tree exudates. | Not threatened |
