marmoset monkey facts
Marmoset Monkey Facts
Don't they look curiously cute with their oblique, almond eyes and soft, fuzzy bodies? Get acquainted with some interesting marmoset monkey facts from the following article if primates fascinate you.
- Marmosets are broadly classified into four genera- Atlantic Marmosets, Pygmy Marmosets, Amazonian Marmosets and Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmosets.
- The Atlantic marmoset genus is further classified into six species(common marmoset, Wied's marmoset, buffy-headed marmoset, buffy-tufted marmoset, black-tufted marmoset and white-headed marmoset) and the Amazonian marmoset genus is further classified into fourteen species (Rondon's marmoset, Rio Acari marmoset, Satéré marmoset, Manicore marmoset, Hershkovitz's marmoset, Silvery marmoset, gold-and-white marmoset, white marmoset, Maués marmoset, Emilia's marmoset, Santarem marmoset, black-headed marmoset, black-tailed marmoset and Marca's marmoset) while the Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset genus and the Pygmy Marmoset genus have one species each (with same names as their respective genus).
- The habitatsof marmosets are located in the deep interiors of dense forests. However, sometimes, they can also be seen on the edges of the forests or in open meadows but that is rare and happens only when they stray to such places in search of food or for their own amusement.
- Marmosets are omnivorous - their natural dietconsists of fruits, leaves, tree sap, plant resins, insects, bird eggs (stolen from nests), spiders and smaller vertebrates.
- They are especially fond of tree gumsand, can be seen indulging in gnawing trunks of resin producing trees a lot.
- Marmosets are primarily diurnaland they can be found actively hunting for food and indulging in social activities with their troop members during the daytime.
- Male marmosets reach sexual maturityone year after birth while females may become sexually active on becoming 20-24 months old. Marmosets are mostly monogamous and females give birth to twins after gestation, though triplets and quadruplets are also not uncommon.
- In their natural, wild surroundings, the lifespanof marmosets is known to be about 10 years on an average. In captivity, marmosets are known to have lived for as long as 16 years.
- Keeping a marmoset as a petinvolves a lot of care and attention as these primates are highly susceptible to catch human infections from their owners. Also, marmosets kept in captivity often show aggression towards people other than the owner or the most dominant member of its human family.
- The most important aspect of marmoset care, other than paying attention to its feeding, lodging and hygiene needs, is to make sure it is never kept isolated. These are extremely social animals and isolation drives them to exhibit signs of depression, irritability and aggression.
- In a typical marmoset society, the responsibility of youngsters is shared by the father and other group members. Things like carrying, sharing food, looking out for predators and keeping an eye on the young marmosets is taken care of by various members of a troop of marmosets. This system is known as cooperative rearingwhere the mother, after giving birth to twins (which is the usual marmoset birth scenario), is not the only one to take care of them.
- One of the most peculiar things about marmoset breeding is that there can be only one dominant female in a given breeding seasonand for that season, she alone can ovulate and mate. The dominant female even prevents other females from ovulating that season by engaging in intimidating behavior such as poking, staring and dominating and, also, by releasing pheromones in huge quantities.