Marmosets

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION: : Marmosets form the family Callithrichidae of the order Primates. The true marmosets make up the genus Callithrix, and the tamarins the genus Saguinus. The pygmy marmoset is classified as Cebuella pygmaea. The golden tamarins constitute the genus Leontopithecus. Goeldi's marmoset is classified as Callimico goeldii

HABITAT:They are restricted to the South American and Central American tropical forests.

DESCRIPTION: They are the smallest monkeys in the world. None gets larger than a small cat. An adult pygmy marmoset of the Amazon Basin can be cupped in a person's hand.Marmosets do not have opposable thumbs but can grasp things with their long fingers. They make chirping sounds.

The animals all have soft, silky fur and are gentle in nature. Many have long fringes of hair on the ears.They are arboreal and feed on fruits and insects.They differ from other monkeys in having two instead of three molars on each side of the upper jaw and in having long, curved claws rather than nails on all the toes except the great toe.

Marmosets are classified into five groups:

1. the true marmosets;
2. the tamarins;
3. the pygmy marmosets;
4. the golden tamarins;
5. and Goeldi's marmoset.