Pygmy Marmoset

Facts

IUCN NOT EVALUATED (NE)

Facts about this animal

The pygmy marmoset is the smallest marmoset and one of the smallest living primates. Adults are about 13 cm long with a tail of about 20 cm and weight 113 to 199 g. The fur is buff and gray with yellow and green striations, which give it a grizzled effect on the head and back and a vague banded effect on the tail. They have long hair on their heads and chests giving the appearance of a mane. Pygmy Marmosets are exudativore-insectivores and spend the majority of their time gouging holes into trees or vines with their sharp lower teeth and then eating the gum, sap, resin, or latex that is exuded. They are found in groups of two to six. The group is made up of an adult pair and its offspring. The monogamy practiced by this species is notable because monogamy is fairly rare in both mammals and primates.

Did you know?
that pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world? On an average adults weigh just 119 g and have a head-body-lenght of 136 mm.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	PRIMATES
Suborder	SIMIAE
Family	CALLITHRICHIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Callithrix pygmaea
Name (English)	Pygmy Marmoset
Name (French)	Ouistiti mignon
Name (German)	Zwergseidenäffchen
Name (Spanish)	Tití Enano
Local names	Brazil: Mico-leãozinho
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Malene Thyssen

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Upper Amazon basin. Subspecies pygmaea in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, subspecies niveiventris in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.
Habitat	Tropical rainforest
Wild population	Unknown. Because of their size, mobility and coloration, it is almost impossible to count the pygmy marmosets living in the South American forests.
Zoo population	533 reported to ISIS (2007). Most of these belong to the nominate subspecies but there is also a small population of Cebuella pygmaea niveiventris in Europe.

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 31 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Wilfried Berns

Why do zoos keep this animal

The pygmy marmoset is primarily kept for educational purposes because it is the smallest neotropical primate and a suitable species for familiarizing the public with the Amazonian rainforest, in particular if kept in mixed exhibits.

Pygmy marmosets may also be kept in "walk-thru" exhibits allowing for close encounters between the animals and people. The public should, however, not be allowed to feed the monkeys.

How this animal should be kept

Pygmy marmosets are social animals that live in pairs or family groups and should be kept accordingly.

In temperate and cold climates, pygmy marmosets must have an indoor enclosure available. Minimum requirements: surface 4 m² per family group, height 2.0 m, room temperature at least 20°C, in places higher (radiators). In the case of artificially lightened enclosures, the day phase should be around 12 hours. Ample vertical and horizontal branches are required for running, climbing and jumping, and horizontal benches or platforms allowing the group to sit together in close contact, and sleeping boxes should be provided in the upper part of the enclosure. Visual contact between groups kept in adjoining enclosures should be prevented.

Ideally, but not mandatory, they have also access to an outdoor enclosure if weather conditions permit. Preference should be given to larger exhibits with a grass cover, bushes and live trees in addition to dead trees, ropes, climbing frames etc. In such enclosures, the pygmy marmosets could be associated with various tamarin species. Mixed exhibits may include also other compatible species such as sloths, tamanduas, agoutis and birds.

Food should be offered several times per day, It should consist of a variety of fruit and vegetables, and should be rich in animal proteins, minerals and vitamins. To keep the animals busy, honey, live insects, gummi arabicum or similar should be offered. In the case of animals kept exclusively indoors, or during the winter period, vitamin D3 should be supplemented.