MarmosetCallithrix — habitat, diet and reproduction
Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) looking at the camera. · Aatu Dorochenko / CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Cropped and resized.
Marmosets are very small monkeys from the forests of Brazil, about the size of a squirrel. They have claws instead of nails to cling to trunks and special teeth to gnaw bark and reach tree sap. They live in families where fathers and older siblings carry the babies.
Quick facts
| Common name | Marmoset |
| Scientific name | Callithrix (genus) |
| Lifespan | Up to about 14 years in the wild; somewhat longer in captivity |
| Length | Body about 18–25 cm, plus a longer tail |
| Weight | About 100–450 g, depending on species |
| Diet | Omnivore: tree gum and sap, insects, fruit |
| Predators | Birds of prey, small wild cats, snakes |
| Conservation status | Varies: the common marmoset is Least Concern, some species endangered |
| Distribution | Eastern Brazil |
| Habitat | Atlantic forest, dry forest, wooded savanna |
| Family | Callitrichidae |
| Lifestyle | In families, in trees |
- Primary category:Mammals
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Interesting facts
- Female marmosets usually give birth to twins.
- Fathers and older siblings carry the babies and hand them to the mother only for nursing.
- Marmosets have claws on all digits except the big toe.
- The world’s smallest monkey, the pygmy marmoset, weighs about 100 grams and is a close relative.
Characteristics
Marmosets have a small body, dense fur and a long tail that cannot grip branches. Many species have coloured ear tufts, white, black or grey.
The common marmoset has a ringed tail and white ear tufts. Its long, sharp lower front teeth are suited to gnawing bark.
Behaviour
Marmosets live in family groups of 3–15 animals. Usually only the dominant female breeds, while others help raise the young.
They communicate with high whistles, twitters and scent. Active by day, they sleep at night in dense foliage or tree holes and move quickly, leaping up trunks like squirrels.
Habitat and distribution
Callithrix marmosets live in eastern Brazil, in Atlantic forest, dry forest and wooded savanna.
People have introduced the common marmoset to other parts of Brazil, including parks in Rio de Janeiro, where it competes with local species.
Diet and feeding
Their special food is tree gum and sap. Marmosets gnaw small holes in bark and return daily to lick the oozing liquid.
They also eat insects, spiders, fruit, flowers, nectar and sometimes eggs or small frogs. Gum provides energy in the dry season when fruit is scarce.
Reproduction and life cycle
Pregnancy lasts about five months. The dominant female usually has twins, sometimes triplets, and can give birth twice a year.
The babies are large relative to their mother, so the whole family takes turns carrying them. Youngsters learn childcare by helping with younger siblings.
Name and history
The word “marmoset” comes from Old French “marmouset”, meaning a small grotesque figure.
The common marmoset is used in research because it breeds easily and resembles humans in some body functions. Like all monkeys, it is a wild animal unsuited to life in a home.
Conservation and threats
The common marmoset is widespread and assessed as Least Concern. Other species, such as the buffy-tufted marmoset (Callithrix aurita), are Endangered.
Most of Brazil’s Atlantic forest has been destroyed, and the illegal pet trade removes many marmosets from the wild.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a marmoset weigh?
About 100–450 grams, depending on species. The related pygmy marmoset, from another genus, weighs only around 100 grams.
What do marmosets eat?
Tree gum and sap, insects, fruit, flowers and nectar.
Why do marmosets have twins?
Twins are normal in this monkey family, and the whole family helps carry and care for them.
Is a marmoset a suitable pet?
No. It is a wild, social animal with special dietary and group needs, and the illegal trade threatens its species.
