Pygmy Marmoset
Cebuela pygmaea
Distribution:
South America
Habitat:
Rainforests.
Diet:
Tree sap or gum, insects, fruits, buds, flowers and nectar.
Gestation:
125 days, two young born
Longevity:
10 - 12 years in the wild, 15 - 18 years in captivity.
Predators:
Birds of prey, small wild cats, and climbing snakes.
Conservation Status:
Least concern
General:
Pygmy Marmosets are notable for being the smallest monkey and one of the smallest primates in the world, at just over 100 grams. Their small size, speed and agility, colouration and the ability to suddenly freeze, make them difficult for predators to see. Though small, they can leap up to five metres.
Pygmy marmosets communicate with each other by chattering and trilling in high-pitched voices. They can make sounds at frequencies above the human hearing range.
As highly social primates, they gather into stable groups of 2-15 marmosets. These are normally family troops, consisting of a breeding pair and their young. When sleeping at night, they usually huddle together.
Fun fact: The word 'marmoset' derives from ‘marmouset’ - a French word, meaning ‘shrimp’ or ‘dwarf’.
At Hamilton Zoo:
You can find our two pygmy marmosets in the Parrot Court. They are very small and can be tricky to spot, so keep your ear our for feeding times of the 'mini monkeys' for your chance to see them!
Females:
Picchu - 6/6/08
Sisa - 4/9/16
Sisa is the daughter of Picchu.