PowerPoint Presentation

Pygmy MarmosetMore Than Meets the Eye

(Photo Courtesy San Diego Zoo 2015)Cindy HenryBio: 123 575Animal Behavior

DescriptionClassification: Callithrix pygmaeaSmallest monkey in the worldAverage 5.35 in (12 in with tail) & 4.2 ozFemales slightly larger than malesAverage lifespan = 12 years

(Photo Courtesy Luis Claudio Marigo)

Description (cont.)Physical AttributesBrownish-gold furBlack ticking on shoulders, back, headVentral fur is light yellow to whiteTails longer than bodiesmarked with black ringsNot prehensile (capable of grasping)Mane of hair covers forehead and earsWhite marks on both sides of mouth and stripe down nose

(Photo Courtesy Monkey Worlds 2014)

Description (cont.)Physical AttributesElongated, narrow incisorsClaw-like nails (tegulae)Do not have opposable thumbsLeap 15 ftTurn head 180 degreesPredatory defense ability

(Photo Courtesy San Diego Zoo 2015)

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HabitatNative to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, BrazilLive in evergreen forests and edge of river floodplainsKeep to vertical sections near ground level to about 65ftHome range about 2.5 acresHome ranges of nearby groups do not overlapGroups will exchange home ranges once a group leaves a given area

(Google Maps 2015)

CommunicationUse vocal cues, visual indicators, and scentUse different vocal cues to communicate different informationSqueaky, closed mouth trills to recognize group membersSoft, twittery chirps to indicate submissionLoud, open mouth trills to signal alarm

(Video Courtesy BBC, Found at Atheist Planet Blog 2010) Skip to 5:30-6:15 to hear calls of the pygmy marmoset encountering another group.Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSVF4CuXYno

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Feeding Patterns/DietExuditavore-insectivoreFeed on gum, sap, insects60 to 80% of their total feeding time is spent on exudates, 12 to 16% on insectsUses elongated incisors to make circular holes in tree to extract sap/gumWill feed from the same tree until it no longer yields exudatesCan make up to 1,300 holes in a single treemove between trees within their home rangeTwo peaks of feeding over the course of a day6:00am-9:00am 3:00pm-6:00pm

(Video Courtesy National Geographic 2012) See how pygmy marmosets feed on trees and prey on insects.Direct link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okoq04AocBk

Natural EnemiesMost common predators:several birds of preysmall wildcatsclimbing snakescapuchin monkeysTayrasFur acts as camouflage in their surroundingsCommon feeding competition:Saddleback and mustached tamarinsFeed from holes made by marmosetsAntsCarry solidified gum from the trees

Social BehaviorTight knit grouptypically consists of 2 to 9 members:Dominant male and femaleTheir offspringOccasional unrelated membersUse sleeping sites as a group, travel together and feed.Between feedings, they engage in grooming, huddling, and playing togetherAll interactions are internal/exclusive to group

(Photo Courtesy San Diego Zoo 2015)

ReproductionMonogamousDominant male and female that produce offspringStudies indicate females use olfactory cues/behavior to convey reproductive stateGestation period: 4.5 monthsGive birth to non-identical twinsNewborns weigh .5oz at birth

(Photo Courtesy Frs Zoo 2006) Two albino pygmy marmosets shown shorty after birth.

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Reproduction (cont.)Infant careMaternal duties are minimallimited to nursing, anogenital licking, protection against predatorsAll other duties fall on father, siblings, and group members:24 hours after birth, these members are responsible for carrying all of the youngInfants weaned after 3 monthsReach sexual maturity around 1.5 years, reach adult weight at 2 yearsJuvenile members remain with group for 2 consecutive birth cyclesMay leave to find another group or start their own

(Video Courtesy Houston Zoo 2009) A pygmy marmoset father carries his offspring.Direct link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerP_2lvqJ0

ConservationLeast concern on the IUCN Red ListBiggest threats:habitat lossseveral known regions protected to prevent deforestationexotic pet tradeUS banned import of primates, most South American countries have banned primate exporting

(Video Courtesy Rare Species Conservatory Foundation 2013) Meet Nanita, a deaf pygmy marmoset raised in captivity after being rejected by her mother.Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6ZM2Q-D0b8

ResearchVery limited research availableDue to their small size and regions they are foundFirst long-term field study conducted by Pekka Soiniprovided most of the knowledge currently available on the speciesOngoing studies on pygmy marmosets in captivityStudying behavior, reproduction, communication

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