Pygmy Marmoset

Pygmy Marmosets are one of the world’s smallest monkeys.  A Pygmy Marmoset could easily fit into an area the size of an adult human’s hand.  These tiny primates differ from other monkeys in several ways.  Pygmy Marmosets use calls which sound like birds.  Some are call are so high pitched, humans can’t hear them.  They also use their sharp teeth to bite into living trees and get at the tree sap and tree gum.  Also, unlike many monkey species Pygmy Marmosets have a furless face, making them very easy to identify.

Physical Description

Pygmy Marmosets are tiny grayish brown monkeys with yellowish highlights and furless faces.  They have fur which grows down from their heads and over their shoulders.  This thick fur is called a cape.  Like other marmosets, and tamarins, Pygmy Marmosets have long flexible fingers with long claws.  They range from 6.5 to 9 inches long, including their tail and weigh just 4 to 7 ounces.  That’s less than a big orange!

Family Life

Mother Pygmy Marmosets usually give birth to twins.  Shortly after birth their father takes turns carrying these new babies around.  These sociable little monkeys live in family groups of 4 to 15 animals.  We call these groups “Troops.”  Young Pygmy Marmosets stay with their troop for at least 2 years.  The troop defends its territory from other marmoset troops with by chasing invaders with noisy calls.  In this way they can protect their favorite food – tree sap.

Diet

Sap, tree gum, insects, flowers and fruit