Marmosets[1][2]
Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Callitrichidae in part

Marmosets are the 25 New World monkey species of the genera Callithrix, Cebuella, Callibella, and Mico. All four genera are part of the biological family Callitrichidae. The term marmoset is also used in reference to the Goeldi's Monkey, Callimico goeldii, which is closely related.

Most marmosets are about 20 centimetres (8 in) long. Relative to other monkeys, they show some apparently primitive features: they have claws rather than nails, and tactile hairs on their wrists. They lack wisdom teeth, and their brain layout seems to be relatively primitive. Their body temperature is unusually variable, changing by up to 4 °C (7 °F) in a day.

According to recent research, marmosets exhibit germline chimerism, which is not known to occur in nature in any other primate.^[3]

[edit] Ecological

Marmosets are highly active, living in the upper canopy of forest trees, and feeding on insects, fruit and leaves. They have long lower incisors, which allow them to chew holes in tree trunks and branches to harvest the gum inside; some species are specialised feeders on gum.

[edit] Social

Marmosets live in family groups of 3 to 15, consisting of one to two breeding females, an unrelated male, their offspring and occasionally extended family members and unrelated individuals. Their mating systems are highly variable and can include monogamy, polygyny and occasionally polyandry. In most species, fraternal twins are usually born, but triplets are not unknown. Like other callitrichines, marmosets are characterized by a high degree of cooperative care of the young and some food sharing and tolerated theft. Adult males, females other than the mother, and older offspring participate in carrying infants. Most groups scent mark and defend the edges of their ranges, but it is unclear if they are truly territorial, as group home ranges greatly overlap.

[edit] Human cultural references

Callithrix comes from ancient Greek and means "beautiful fur." Marmoset is from the French marmouset, uncertain etymology.

The monkey is mentioned in Shakespeare's Tempest, when Caliban says he will instruct his new master Stephano "how to snare the nimble marmoset" [for eating], on the no-man island where the play takes place (Act 2, Scene 2).

[edit] Species list

• Genus Callithrix – Atlantic marmosets
  • Common Marmoset, Callithrix jacchus
  • Black-tufted Marmoset, Callithrix penicillata
  • Wied's Marmoset, Callithrix kuhlii
  • White-headed Marmoset, Callithrix geoffroyi
  • Buffy-headed Marmoset, Callithrix flaviceps
  • Buffy-tufted Marmoset, Callithrix aurita
• Genus Mico - Amazonian marmosets
  • Rio Acari Marmoset, Mico acariensis
  • Manicore Marmoset, Mico manicorensis
  • Silvery Marmoset, Mico argentata
  • White Marmoset, Mico leucippe
  • Emilia's Marmoset, Mico emiliae
  • Black-headed Marmoset, Mico nigriceps
  • Marca's Marmoset, Mico marcai
  • Black-tailed Marmoset, Mico melanura
  • Santarem Marmoset, Mico humeralifera
  • Maués Marmoset, Mico mauesi
  • Gold-and-white Marmoset, Mico chrysoleuca
  • Hershkovitz's Marmoset, Mico intermedia
  • Satéré Marmoset, Mico saterei
• Genus Callibella – Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset
  • Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset, Callibella humilis
• Genus Cebuella – Pygmy Marmoset
  • Pygmy Marmoset, Cebuella pygmaea

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Marmoset

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Callithrix

• Primate Info Net Callithrix Factsheets