| Range: |
Tropical South America |
| Habitat: |
Forests |
| Conservation Status: |
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| Scientific Name: |
Callithrix pygmaea |
This little animal has the distinction of being the smallest monkey in the world -- an adult weighs just slightly more than a quarter pound. The pygmy marmoset lives in the forests of South America, where it can jump swiftly and easily through the trees to escape predators. Much of its day is spent gouging holes in trees to get at the sap and gum inside. It also eats insects, fruit and flowers. Marmosets are social animals that live in small groups called troops. Each troop usually includes just one breeding female, so most of the child-rearing is done by the father and older siblings. Did you know?When an incoming snake, wild cat or bird threatens a pygmy marmoset, the entire family group often mobs the predator until it retreats.
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