Pygmy Marmoset

As one of the world’s smallest primates, the Pygmy Marmoset is known to weigh somewhere between 120 to 140 grams, measuring between 5.5 to 6.3 inches in length.

Found in the rainforests of South America, mostly in river edge forest areas, Pygmy Marmosets are known to be found in the southeastern portions of Colombia, eastern areas of Ecuador, eastern portions of Peru, northern areas of Bolivia and in western Brazil.

A quadruped, the species remains to be a member of the New World monkey order and is quite well documented, a status which hails from its rather unique small size. Known to have a diet that is specialized on tree gum, they are known to gnaw holes on trees, from where they can extract their primary diets from.

In relation to its small size, the Pygmy Marmoset is known by different names, with the name “pocket monkey” or mono de bolsillio and “little lion” or leoncito being the two most popular.

Revealed to have lifespans that range somewhere between 11 to 12 years old, captive Pygmy Marmosets kept in zoos are known to live as long as 20 years, saying something about the general longevity of smaller sized creatures, a status which stays true with toy dogs known to live longer than bigger sized dogs.

Given their small size, Pygmy Marmosets are known to live in groups, with father Pygmy Marmosets typically taking the role of safeguarding their infants from predators. Other Pygmy Marmosets also take a hand in helping rear an infant, yielding to the “collaborative” setup of Pygmy Marmoset groups.

With their small size, the Pygmy Marmoset is certainly an interesting species, one which stands out from the rest of its cousins and distant relatives.