Little monkey. The smallest monkey is the pygmy marmoset. Marmoset broad-nosed monkeys

03.11.2019

Everyone knows from a school biology course that Primates are one of the most common orders of animals on Earth. It also includes a person. This unit, like all the others, has its champions. The largest of them is the gorilla. Then who - smallest monkey in the world?

Two species claim this title - the pygmy mouse lemur and the pygmy marmoset. To determine the leader, you need to compare their sizes. The length of the lemur from head to tail is about 30 cm, the length of the marmoset is almost 40 cm. But it weighs about 100 grams more than it. So, in terms of size, the smallest monkey in the world is the pygmy mouse lemur, and in terms of weight, the marmoset. Who are they?

The habitat of this species is the famous "island of lemurs" Madagascar, or rather, its western part, a zone of arid deciduous and mixed forests. The Kirindi Natural Park is located there, and these monkeys live in it. There are hypotheses about a wider range of their habitat, but there is no confirmation of this. Pygmy mouse lemurs are nocturnal, which is why scientists were able to detect and study this species only 2 times - in the middle of the 19th and the end of the 20th centuries. They feed on leaves, fruits, nectar, spiders, insects, less often small lizards and insects serve as food. The dwellings of these monkeys are grass nests located in the hollows of trees. They can live alone or in pairs/large groups.

The habitats of these monkeys are the northern regions of Bolivia and Peru, the west of Brazil, southern Colombia, the Amazon Basin and Ecuador. The exact address is the edges of forests, jungle, river banks. Mostly pygmy marmosets live in trees, they go down only in case of emergency. They develop vigorous activity only in the morning and in the afternoon, i.e. lifestyle - daily. They live in tribal groups, each of which occupies its own territory. Such colonies of dwarf marmosets resemble large families, where one for all and all for one. They do not allow strangers into their territories, but expel them with a cry, sometimes it comes to a fight. These monkeys feed on tree sap, fruits, insects and spiders.

It is clear that these species need protection. However, the above-described species of marmosets is unpretentious, and it is too early to worry about its safety, but pygmy mouse lemurs are listed in the international Red Book, where they are marked as endangered. At the moment, the task of all mankind is to preserve in nature all contenders for the title of “the smallest monkey in the world”, which once again suggests the idea of a complete ban on poaching and deforestation. But more on that another time.

The wool of pygmy marmosets has a dark golden color, with the exception of some "islands", painted in a light brown hue. Animal habitat: Amazon basin, western regions of Brazil. Also, tiny monkeys can be found in the south of Colombia.

Due to the fact that pygmy marmosets have a long tail-balancer, they can move through trees with great speed. It is in the branches that they spend most of their lives, and they rarely descend to the surface of the earth. Animals live in tribal groups, which consist of 2-3 generations.

The area where the monkey lives is protected by a secret (secreted from certain glands) and strangers cannot get close to them because of the specific smell.

Marmoset nutrition

Dwarf animals feed on tree sap. They extract tree sap by gnawing the bark of trees with sharp incisors. The animals also eat insects and various fruits (they can go without food for three days).

Little monkeys are increasingly being used as pets. But captivity, other nutrition, oxygen and atmosphere affect the animals detrimentally, and they die of depression. Newborn marmosets must take food every 2 hours, otherwise they get sick and some do not survive. Because of this, it is quite difficult to keep marmosets.

In most cases, tiny monkeys cannot get used to their new owners, feeling hostility towards them. When you try to hug, stroke or caress, they bite and start throwing their excrement at a person.

The smallest monkeys in the world become sexually mature at the age of 2 years. The period of bearing cubs lasts about 5 months. On average, females bring 2-3 fruits. For the first few weeks, the female does not leave the offspring, and if she picks up newborn monkeys, she can refuse them.

The record life expectancy for pygmy marmosets was 11 years. Most animals live up to 10 years.

There are more than 400 species of monkeys on our planet. Also, semi-monkeys are distinguished, which include lemurs, short-footed and tupai. Primates are as similar to humans as possible and have a unique intelligence. Mammals differ significantly from each other depending on the habitat. Some of them can grow up to only 15 cm (pygmy monkeys), while others reach sizes up to 2 meters (male gorillas).

Monkey classification

Monkeys have been studied by scientists for a long period of time. There are a variety of classifications of mammals, the most common of which is considered to be the following:

a group of tarsiers;
broad-nosed primates;
marmoset broad-nosed monkeys;
mammals callimico;
narrow-nosed group;
gibbon;
orangutans;
gorillas;
chimpanzee.

Each of the groups has its own bright representatives, not like anyone else. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Tarsiers, broad-nosed and marmosets

The first three groups of mammals are small monkeys. The smallest of them are tarsier primates:

Sirichta

Sirichta - the length of the animals is about 16 cm, the weight rarely exceeds 160 g. A distinctive feature of the monkeys are huge, round, bulging eyes.

Bankan tarsier

The Bankan tarsier is a small primate that also has large eyes with a brownish iris.

tarsier cast

The ghost tarsier is one of the rarest species of monkeys, having thin, long fingers and a woolen brush at the end of the tail.

Broad-nosed monkeys are distinguished from other mammals by the presence of a wide nasal septum and 36 teeth. They are represented by the following types:

Capuchin-shaped - a feature of animals is a grasping tail.

Crybaby

Crybaby - this type of mammal is listed in the Red Book. The monkeys got their name due to their unique lingering sounds that they make.

favi

Favi - monkeys grow up to 36 cm, while their tail is about 70 cm. Small brown-colored primates with black limbs.

white-breasted capuchin

The white-breasted capuchin is distinguished by a white spot on the chest and muzzle of the primate. The brown color on the back and head resembles a hood and mantle.

Saki Monk

Saki-monk - the monkey gives the impression of a sad and pensive mammal, has a hood hanging over the forehead and ears.

The following types of mammals belong to marmoset broad-nosed monkeys:

wistity

Wistity - the length of the primate does not exceed 35 cm. A distinctive feature is the elongated claws on the toes, which allow you to jump from branch to branch and grab them perfectly.

pygmy marmoset

Dwarf marmoset - the length of the animal is 15 cm, while the tail grows up to 20 cm. The monkey has a long and thick coat of a golden hue.

black tamarin

The black tamarin is a small dark monkey that grows up to 23 cm.

crested tamarin

Crested tamarin - in some sources, the monkey is called pinche. When the animal is worried, a crest rises on its head. Primates have a white chest and front legs, all other parts of the body are red or brown.

piebald tamarin

Pied tamarin - a distinctive feature of the monkey is a completely naked head.

The small size allows you to keep some animals even at home.

Callimico, narrow-nosed and gibbon monkeys

Callimico monkeys have recently been separated into a separate class. A prominent representative of mammals is:

marmoset

Marmoset - animals combined different features of other types of monkeys. Primates have the structure of paws, like marmoset monkeys, teeth, like capuchins and a muzzle, like tamarins.

Representatives of the narrow-nosed group of monkeys can be found in Africa, India, and Thailand. These include monkeys - animals with front and hind limbs of the same length; do not have hair on the muzzle and stressed areas under the tail.

Hussar

Hussar - monkeys with white noses and powerful, sharp fangs. Animals have a long-legged body and an elongated muzzle.

green monkey

Green monkey - distinguished by swamp-colored hair on the tail, back and crown. Also, monkeys have cheek pouches, like hamsters, in which they store food supplies.

Javanese macaque

The Javan macaque is another name for the crabeater. Monkeys have beautiful brown eyes and greenish hair that shimmers with grass.

Japanese macaque

Japanese macaque - animals have thick hair, which gives the impression of a large individual. In fact, the monkeys are of medium size and, due to the long hairline, seem larger than they actually are.

The group of gibbon mammals is distinguished by their hands, feet, face and ears, which are hairless, as well as elongated limbs.

Representatives of the gibbon are:

silver gibbon

The silver gibbon is a small gray-silver animal with a bare muzzle, hands and black feet.

Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon

Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon - a distinctive feature of animals is yellow cheeks, and at birth all individuals are light, and in the process of growing up they become black.

Eastern hulok

Oriental hulok - the second name is "singing monkey". Animals differ in white wool, located above the eyes of mammals. It seems that primates have gray eyebrows.

Siamang

Siamang spliced - from this group, the siamang is considered the largest monkey. The presence of a throat pouch on the animal's neck distinguishes it from other gibbon representatives.

pygmy gibbon

Dwarf gibbon - animals have long forelimbs that drag along the ground when moving, so monkeys often walk with their arms thrown behind their heads.

It should be noted that all gibbons do not have a tail.

Orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees

Orangutans are massive large monkeys with hooked fingers and fatty growths on their cheeks. Representatives of this group are:

Sumatran orangutan

Sumatran orangutan - animals have a fiery coat color.

Bornean orangutan

Bornean orangutan - primates can grow up to 140 cm and weigh about 180 kg. Monkeys have short legs, a large body and arms hanging below the knees.

kalimantan orangutan

The Kalimantan orangutan is distinguished by its brown-red coat and a concave skull in the front. Monkeys are the owners of large teeth and a powerful lower jaw.

Representatives of the gorilla group include the following types of monkeys:

Coastal gorilla - the maximum weight of the animal is 170 kg, height - 170 cm. If the females are completely black, then the males have a silver stripe on their backs.
Lowland gorilla - characterized by brown-gray fur, habitat - mango thickets.
Mountain gorilla - animals are listed in the Red Book. They have thick and long hair, the skull is narrower, and the forelimbs are shorter than the hind limbs.

Chimpanzees rarely grow over 150 cm and weigh over 50 kg. The types of monkeys in this group include:

Bonobo

Bonobo - animals are recognized as the smartest monkeys in the world. Primates have black fur, dark skin, and pink lips.

common chimpanzee

The common chimpanzee has a brown-black coat with white stripes around the mouth. Monkeys of this species move only on their feet.

Monkeys also include the black howler monkey, the crowned (blue) monkey, the pale saki, the frilled baboon, and the kahau.

A small and fluffy animal, the size of a kitten, lives in the jungle - all day long this creature with large Mongoloid eyes jumps from branch to branch. This is the smallest monkey in the world - a pygmy marmoset.

An adult is hardly fifteen centimeters in length, this is not counting the tail - it reaches about twenty centimeters in length. This crumb weighs no more than one hundred and ninety grams, on average - 124 grams. It was first discovered at the beginning of the nineteenth century in South America - its habitat was the Amazon area, the western part of Brazil, and the north of Peru and Ecuador.

They can be found in the jungle - they do not live on trees over eighteen meters, on the edges of the forest. Sensing danger, this little creature with a very intelligent look hides in the foliage. The main part of the life of the pygmy marmoset takes place in the trees. Such a pastime does not make it difficult for monkeys at all - they are well developed and easily jump from branch to branch - they easily jump over distances of up to two meters.

General characteristics

The smallest monkey has a beautiful fur coat - its fur is soft, dense. The color is brown, gives off a reddish tinge and is punctuated by yellowish-green hairs. Due to the fact that the hair on the head is longer than on the rest of the body, a mane effect is created. This is where the similarity with the king of beasts ends. The tufts of these hairs are usually dark in color. The general coloration of the monkey contributes to a comfortable life in the crowns of trees - it has excellent camouflage. The hind legs are longer than the front ones, the miniature monkey fingers are crowned with sharp claws, only on the big toes there is a flat nail. The tail of the monkey does not have a grasping reflex.

Basically, monkeys have three molars, marmosets have only two. They have long incisors with which they gnaw through the wood of trees. The size of the skull is small, but the brain in it is relatively large. They lead a daytime lifestyle, climb into a hollow at night.

Diet

Monkeys feed on the sap of trees - having made a hole in the tree with their teeth, the marmosets feast on the nectar seeping through the hole. Butterflies flock to the secreted juice - and immediately become the prey of a small predator. They can eat grasshoppers - this is their favorite delicacy, for which they are even capable of taking risks - climbing down from a tree. They do this very rarely and reluctantly. Do not fail to treat yourself to a spider or a frog. From time to time they send lizards, snails and other insects into the mouth.

These crumbs drink a lot of water to find it, they have to examine the flowers and shoots. In zoos, monkeys are fed canned food, flour beetle larvae. They can treat you with grapes, apples, bananas. Sometimes employees add boiled eggs and meat to the diet of babies. But still, in captivity, the monkeys are uncomfortable - they do not tolerate excessive fuss, although they themselves are very active and sociable.

The small size of the body makes an excellent prey from the pygmy marmoset - they are in danger in the form of predators - animals and tree snakes. The main eaters of pygmy monkeys are birds of prey. Noticing the danger in time, the marmosets gather in a group and try to attack the predator, sometimes they manage to lead the enemy to flight. Otherwise, they hide until the threat has passed. In nature, rarely any individual lives up to 10 years, in captivity - up to 18.

Lifestyle and reproduction

Monkeys live in groups reaching up to 12 individuals in number, and these are all members of the same family - a male, a female and their cubs. Moreover, males and females do not have other external differences, except for the genitals. Up to four generations can live in a flock. They fiercely fight for their own territory, small growth is not a hindrance to them. If someone dares to encroach on the marked territory, they risk not only being scolded, but also getting a couple of cracks from the leader of the pack.

The boundaries of the chosen site are marked with a special secret. When there are two males in such a group at the same time, one dominates and restricts his access to the female. Expressing his disposition, the male pygmy marmoset shows his genitals to the lady of his heart.

Pregnancy of the female takes about 4.5 months, usually twins are born. In rare cases, triplets appear. No matter how many there are, only one survives. Newborn babies are naked, blind, and weigh only 16 grams. In the first days after birth, pygmy marmosets are helpless - for the first three weeks they need constant care. For the first day, the babies hang on their mother, and then they move onto the back of their father or other females, and they teach them the wisdom of life, they return to their mother when it comes time for feeding and for the procedures necessary for the monkeys. Thus, the young mother can recover and rest, and the young get the opportunity to get acquainted with the skills of motherhood.

Twenty days after giving birth, the female is again ready to mate. The group is dominated by one female, a special hormone is secreted in her body that suppresses ovulation in other female representatives. Scientists still do not know the exact answer - whether the female mates with several partners or monogamy is inherent in monkeys. It is possible that in monkeys, like in humans, everything is strictly individual.

Three months later, grown-up babies become independent. In a year and a half they enter sexual maturity, however, they can take part in reproduction at the age of two years.

One of the smallest monkeys in the world is a representative of the marmoset family - the pygmy marmoset, officially called Cebuellapygmaea. The average weight of babies is about 120 grams, and the body length is not more than 15 centimeters. Therefore, they are also called pocket monkeys.

Appearance

The smallest monkey in the world has a very unusual color. The paws and abdomen of this animal are orange or dark yellow. From above, the fur of the animal is thick and long, the color is a combination of several colors - black, golden and gray. A distinctive feature of marmosets is black stripes on the tail and white dashes on the bridge of the nose and on the muzzle in the form of a mustache. According to external signs, there are no special differences between females and males, except that the males are slightly smaller.

The length of the tail of the crumb exceeds the length of the body and is approximately 20 centimeters. The tail is not prehensile, and their hind limbs are longer than their front ones. All the fingers of the crumbs have claws, except for the thumbs on the hind limbs, where the nail is flat. The incisor teeth and claws of marmosets are very sharp, which is due to the peculiarities of their diet.

Nutrition Features

The juice of grapes and rubber tree make up about 80% of the diet of the marmoset monkey. In plants, they eat deep holes and after about 24 hours they feed on the juices and resins accumulated in the hole. The structure of the digestive tract is different from that of other primate species. For better digestion of a heavy diet, the section of the caecum is lengthened.

Another, small, part of the diet is made up of insects - grasshoppers, ants, butterflies and beetles. The smallest monkeys catch them in the crown of trees at a level of about 10 meters above the ground. Also marmosets are not averse to eating nectar, fruits, small birds and flowers. They find fresh water on the shoots of plants, in flowers and on leaves.

habitats

The smallest monkey lives mainly in the upper Amazon, as well as in the western part of Brazil, Ecuador, northern Bolivia and Peru. Their favorite places of residence are river valleys, where evergreen forests grow. They also sometimes populate the outskirts of agricultural fields.

Due to their light weight, these crumbs can reach the very top of the tree crown, but prefer to stay at the level of 20 meters from the ground, as they can become easy prey for birds at the top. They are very territorial, and each group of marmosets is isolated from each other. They guard their territory with sound calls and scent glands, which they rub into tree branches.

reproduction

Marmosets live in groups of 5-10 individuals. In the group, there is always a pair of dominant female and male, as well as their cubs. A fertile female suppresses ovulation in other females by releasing a special hormone. Seasonality in reproduction is not expressed, but the female can give birth no more than twice a year. The dominant female is the only individual from the group that produces offspring.

Pregnancy of dwarf marmosets lasts an average of 125 days. They give birth to 2-3 cubs. Although the female can feed them all, usually only one survives. The whole flock is engaged in raising the cub, and not just the mother. Most of the time, the cubs spend with their father or "nannies", who protect them from predators by carrying them on their backs. The female is mainly engaged in breastfeeding.

Interesting facts about marmosets

Typically, pocket monkeys give birth to two cubs, triplets appear only in 8% of cases, and the birth rate of one cub is 16%.
It is better not to keep marmosets at home, as they miss their flock very much and may even die of depression.
These babies are capable of jumping 5 meters in length.
The survival rate of cubs is only 67%.
These monkeys, with the help of only the tips of long and sharp claws, can hold their weight.
They are able to turn their heads 180 degrees.
Marmosets are very sociable, they can create high-frequency sounds that are not perceptible to human hearing.
Among primates, they are the smallest.
Females are able to temporarily stop ovulation while caring for the younger members of the flock.

Miniature representatives of the monkey world

Pygmy marmosets are not the only little monkeys in the world, let's get to know some of them better.

Swiss Lilliputian Marmoset

Marmoset is a small monkey that lives in Latin America, belonging to the marmoset family. The body length rarely reaches 30 centimeters, and the average weight of an individual is only 350 grams. This species was first discovered in western Brazil in 1823. They are very shy and, sensing danger, begin to warn relatives with loud cries. These are diurnal animals that, climbing trees, find their livelihood. At nightfall, they hide in the hollows of trees for the night.

Another representative of the miniature world of monkeys is the talapoin monkey. It weighs a little more than a kilogram with a body length of 36 centimeters. Refers to narrow-nosed primates. Talapoins live mainly in the wetlands of Gabon, Rio Muni and Angola.

The fur of pygmy monkeys is greenish in color, and on the abdomen and breast it is yellow or white. These smart babies live in packs of 150 or more individuals. Female monkeys are very aggressive, sometimes even attacking males.

Lion marmoset

Lion marmosets are common in eastern Brazil. Body length - 25 centimeters, weight about 600 grams. They live in dense tropical forests with densely intertwined vines, which always have a lot of fruit. They prefer to be in the crown of trees at a level of 10-30 meters from the ground. The long hair of lion marmosets is golden in color with a reddish tint. The skin on the muzzle and paws is black, rarely dark red.

The main diet of these monkeys is fruits and insects. They live in a family of 2-8 individuals, headed by a male and a female. They breed twice a year. After 130 days of pregnancy, females give birth to twins, which are raised by the whole family. The average life expectancy of lion marmosets is about 15 years.

Geldian callimico is another representative of small monkeys. Quite common in eastern Peru, southern Colombia and northern Bolivia. The length of the body is about 22 centimeters, the average weight is 600 grams. The color is dark brown, sometimes the hair on the head is white and red.

Like the pygmy marmoset, the callimico feeds on insects, fruits, nectar, as well as small vertebrate fauna - frogs and lizards. During the wet period they drink water from the leaves, during the drought period - from water sources. They live in the lower tier of the forest, and for the night they settle in hollows of trees or dense undergrowth.

The breeding season is from September to November. They live in families of up to 9 individuals, the group is headed by a male and several females. The duration of pregnancy is 150 days. The female gives birth to one cub weighing about 40 grams.