Pygmy Marmosets

Pygmy marmosets (also known as Dwarf Monkeys, Pocket Monkeys, and Little Lions), are nearly the smallest primates. Their bodies range from 14 to 16 centimeters in length, with an additional 15 to 20 centimeter tail. Males usually weight about 140 grams, while females are about 20 grams lighter. These monkeys are so small that you can usually hold them in your hand.

The technical name for the pygmy marmoset is Cebuella Pygmaea. The marmoset is a New World monkey native to rainforest canopies in Central and South America. They can be found in parts of BRazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

The pygmy marmoset has a tawny coat with a ringed tail. Like other marmosets, it has claws instead of nails, and is omnivorous. They eat insects, leaves, fruit, and tree gum/sap. They have special incisors for digging into tree trunks and branches to reach tree gum/sap.

Pygmy marmosets are so small that they can be hard to find in the wild. However, they are popular in zoos around the world since they don't take up too much space and children usually like them.

These marmosets communicate in many ways, including vocal, chemical, and physical communication. The average lifespan of a wild pygmy marmoset is eleven to twelve years, but ones held in captivity sometimes live into their 20's. They live in family groups similar to other marmosets.

There are two subspecies to the Pygmy Marmoset. The scientific names are Cebuella pygmaea pygmaea (Western Pygmy Marmoset) and Cebuella pygmaea niveiventris (Eastern Pygmy Marmoset).

*Photo above by Flickr user JWM_AngryMonkey