Dwarf marmoset at home. Pygmy marmoset - an exotic friend

The dwarf marmoset should be kept in a glass terrarium. Its dimensions should be 40 by 60 cm with a height of 75 cm. A full-spectrum fluorescent lamp should be installed in the terrarium. Deprived sunlight In such conditions, the animal’s body is able to produce vitamin D. In addition, the terrarium should be equipped with an incandescent lamp for heating and a red lamp simulating dim night lighting. The optimal temperature for marmosets is 25-30 degrees. At night it should not fall below 20 degrees. The duration of daylight hours for animals should be about 12-14 hours.

In addition to lighting, terrariums should be equipped with small ventilation hatches with covers to prevent drafts, which marmosets are afraid of. In addition, it is recommended to install two retractable trays to collect animal waste. There should be a set of bowls for feeding. In order for the marmoset to climb, several wooden sticks should be secured in the terrarium and a house simulating a hollow should be installed. During daylight hours, the animal will sit on its roof and sleep inside at night.

Monkey's diet and preferences

The basis of the diet of the dwarf marmoset is considered to be porridge. baby food. The required additives are finely chopped fresh and dried variety of fruits. Periodically follows animals and protein foods (meat, live insects). Marmosets really enjoy eating live crickets or crickets, first hunting them and then eating them. From time to time, monkeys need to be given mineral and vitamin supplements, which can be bought in pharmacies. Must always have a clean drinking water.

A pygmy marmoset does not need a pair, since it does not yearn without one. But the monkey misses people, without their constant attention. She is extremely inquisitive and active, so she should be provided with new toys periodically. The marmoset is delighted with the new item, but also quickly loses interest.

In general, the pygmy marmoset is an ideal pet for keeping at home. The lifespan of this cute and friendly creature, capable of giving a lot of positive emotions, approaching 6 years or even more.

Squad - Primates

Family - Marmosets

Genus/Species - Cebuella ptgmaea. Pygmy marmoset or marmoset

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Body length: 12-15.5 cm.

Tail length: 19 cm.

Weight: 100-120 g.

REPRODUCTION

Puberty: from 2 years old.

Mating season: not confined to a specific season.

Pregnancy: about 140 days.

Number of cubs: 2 in each litter.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: the relationship between the marmosets (see photo) is friendly; active during the day; keep in family herds; protect the area.

Food: most often tree resin, insects, spiders and fruits.

Lifespan: 5-8 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The family of marmosets includes 21 species of monkeys, for example, the common marmoset, the silver marmoset, the Steller's marmoset and the imperial saguina.

The pygmy marmoset is a small monkey that resembles a squirrel in appearance. These monkeys live in small family groups consisting of married couple- male and female, and their immature cubs. Not only the mother, but also the father takes care of the babies. In addition, they are helped by other females who have not reached sexual maturity.

REPRODUCTION

The mating period of marmosets is not confined to a specific season. A female marmoset can mate at any time of the year. Zoologists have found that in a herd only one female can have cubs. The remaining females help her raise the babies. Such mutual assistance among primates is the exception rather than the rule. A female pygmy marmoset mates with several males. Pregnancy lasts 140 days. A female most often gives birth to two, less often one or three babies. Baby marmosets are quite large. The weight of a newborn baby is 1/7 of the weight of an adult animal (about 15 g). Despite their size, the cubs at first are completely dependent on their mother and other nannies.

From the age of six weeks, the cubs are carried by the father. He transfers the babies to the female only during feeding. At the age of 3 months, the cubs become independent, they can already take care of themselves.

LIFESTYLE

Pygmy marmosets live in the lower and middle tiers of South American tropical forests. They prefer forest edges, river banks, and flooded parts of the jungle where there are enough trees for the animals to move around in search of food. Pygmy marmosets, like squirrels, easily climb to the tops of trees, the leaves of which hide them well from predators. The monkeys are safe in the treetops, since their enemies do not dare to step on thin branches.

Marmosets find food not only in trees, but also on the ground. These animals are active during the day; At night, marmosets sleep in tree hollows.

The pygmy marmoset is a shy and cautious animal. In case of danger, she quickly climbs up the trunk and hides behind a branch. Marmosets quickly and surprisingly deftly move among the branches, run along the thinnest of them and hide from their pursuer, running backwards. These sociable animals live in groups of 4 to 15 individuals. In the morning, the family marks the site by making loud cries. If two families meet within the territory, the leader turns his back to the aggressors, while the fur on the back of his body stands on end.

FOOD

Finding and eating food takes up most of the pygmy marmoset's day. Sometimes they descend from trees to search for insects on the ground or climb thin branches to pick the ripest, most delicious fruits. Sometimes pygmy marmosets hunt small birds. However, marmosets' favorite food is gum. To get to their delicacies, the monkeys, clinging to the tree trunk with sharp claws, chew the bark with chisel-like teeth. The bark protects the internal parts of the tree trunk from damage. If it is damaged, the tree begins to secrete a special liquid that closes the wound and prevents penetration pathogenic bacteria. It is this juice that dwarf marmosets drink. In addition to gum, monkeys feed on insects, which they catch in a special way. The local humid jungle is home to wandering ants, which regularly make long migrations and devour all living things that come their way. Marmosets settle next to the paths along which stray ants walk and catch insects trying to escape from the ants.

GENERAL PROVISIONS. DESCRIPTION

As soon as a hawk or other predator appears nearby, the monkey instantly freezes and does not reveal its presence with a single movement. Pygmy marmosets, like other small monkeys of South America - tamarins, marmosets and other species of marmosets, are caught in large quantities for sale in pet stores. Their number in nature is rapidly declining. This strange monkey is the smallest in the world. She's a little more mouse and fits perfectly in a tablespoon. Body length is 10-15 cm, tail - up to 20 cm. They communicate with each other by chirping. They live in families in the forests of the upper Amazon, feeding on insects, fruits, buds, flowers, and eggs of small birds. As a rule, they give birth to twins, sometimes triplets. The baby's weight is no more than 20 grams. For several months, sucklings hang on the mother’s stomach, after 5 months they become independent, and at 2-3 years they start their own families.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Pygmy marmosets mark their territory with the help of an aromatic substance, the smell of which helps their fellow tribesmen navigate.
In the vocal repertoire of marmosets there are a lot of high-pitched sounds that humans simply cannot hear.
Pygmy marmosets have small ears hidden under the mantle. This is what distinguishes them from other species of the family, which have large ears, very often with tufts of hair at the ends.
These monkeys have best developed hearing and vision.
The birth of twins in pygmy marmosets is the rule rather than the exception. Only in ten cases out of a hundred are one or three cubs born.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE DYWAR TOY

Head: long hair forms a mantle on the head and cheeks. This species does not have ear tufts.

Teeth: chisel-shaped, adapted for stripping bark from trees. This is how the monkey gets to the resin.

Limbs: the hind limbs are longer than the forelimbs, adapted for jumping. All fingers, except the big ones, have very sharp claws with which the monkey holds food.

Wool: soft and silky. The color is brown with yellowish and greenish spots, in some places dark gray, marbled, the lower part of the body is whitish. The coat is not as shiny as other marmosets. Animals do not have secondary sexual characteristics; individuals of both sexes are absolutely identical in appearance (the genitals, of course, differ).

- Habitat of the pygmy marmoset

PLACES OF RESIDENCE

They inhabit the upper reaches of the Amazon in Ecuador, Colombia, Northern Peru and Western Brazil.

SAVE

Previously, pygmy marmosets were destroyed because they were considered carriers of yellow fever or malaria. Until 1973, they were exported abroad to zoos and for scientific research. Nowadays, the main threat to their existence is deforestation of the jungle.

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Looking at this little creature with huge almond-shaped eyes, it’s impossible not to smile - this monkey is so cute and cute! Her name is the pygmy marmoset (lat. Cebuella pygmaea) and she is rightfully considered the tiniest primate on Earth.

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Cool video about the smallest monkey - the pygmy marmoset. Very funny movements under the rays of a heating lamp.

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Pygmy marmosets compete with dwarf mouse lemurs for the title of the world's smallest primate. Their size ranges from 11 to 15 cm, not counting the tail, which is 17 to 22 cm long. The weight of dwarf marmosets varies from 100 to 150 g. Their fur is thick and long and is colored golden brown on the upper side. The underside is white or orange. Long tufts of hair on the head and chest give the impression of a mane.

Pygmy marmosets live in the Amazon, southern Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru and Bolivia, and western Brazil. They often settle on the edges of forests, along river banks and in jungles flooded by seasonal floods. They spend most of their lives in trees, but sometimes descend to the ground. They move on four legs, including on vertical branches, and can jump up to a meter. They feed on tree sap, insects, spiders or fruits.

Pygmy marmosets live in natal groups consisting of several generations. They mark their territory with a secretion secreted from special glands, and strangers from other groups, as a rule, are driven out with a scream. Sometimes it can even come down to fights.

According to some sources, pygmy marmosets lead a monogamous lifestyle, although other sources state that females mate with several males. After a pregnancy that lasts up to 150 days, as a rule, two cubs are born. The father and other males from the group help in raising the offspring, carry them on their backs and bring them to the mother for feeding with milk. At the age of two years, young pygmy marmosets become sexually mature. The most long duration The lifespan recorded for these animals was 11 years.

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The pygmy marmoset is a hamster-sized monkey that runs along branches at the speed of a mouse and turns its head like an owl.

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It lives in the Amazon basin and neighboring countries. Body length from 11 to 15 cm, tail from 17 to 22 cm. Weight from 100 to 150g. It feeds on insects and their larvae, nuts, and juicy fruits. Leads the daytime wood image life.

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The marmoset monkey is one of the most amazing monkeys living on Earth. When you look at this tiny creature the size of a mouse, which is exactly how big this monkey is or a little larger (13-15 cm sometimes 10 cm) with a relatively long tail (20-21 cm) with Mongoloid big eyes, often appearing smaller framed by hair, but with a very meaningful look, you feel some kind of embarrassment. After all, this monkey - a marmoset - this little mouse is a real monkey, a true primate, having many similar characteristics to humans, including in brain development.

October 29th, 2013

Pygmy marmosets are the smallest primates in the world. Only dwarf mouse lemurs stand on the same level with them. The size of an adult pygmy marmoset is from 11 to 15 cm, not counting the length of the tail, which is 17-22 cm.

The dwarf marmoset weighs from 100 to 150 grams. Let's find out more about these little ones.

Pygmy marmoset (Pygmy marmoset: Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea Spix, 1823) found in South America in the Upper Amazon at the base of the Andes in Colombia, eastern Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia and western Brazil.

Pygmy marmosets have a patchy distribution in mature and secondary lowland rain forest, flooded during the rainy season and located along the banks of rivers and forest streams. They are rarely found on trees taller than 18 m or on the ground. Sometimes they live on the edge of agricultural fields. Marmosets inhabit secondary forest habitats if there is suitable food available there.

Pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys and one of the smallest species of primates (the smallest primate is the miniature mouse lemur). Their body is covered with beautiful, soft and dense fur. The hair on the head of pygmy marmosets is longer than the hair on the body, giving the appearance of a mane. Long tail Pygmy marmosets are not grasping. Their forelimbs are shorter than their hind limbs. Pygmy marmosets have claws on all of their toes except thumb on a foot that has a flat nail. Males and females are almost identical in appearance; with the exception of the genitals, there are no other secondary sexual characteristics.

The eyes of marmosets are light brown and brown, their color varies slightly. Pygmy marmosets have a small skull, but their brain volume is relatively large. They have only two molars, as opposed to the three of most other monkeys. There is no indication anywhere that pygmy marmosets have wisdom teeth, so we can conclude that they are missing. As an adaptation for chewing holes in tree trunks and branches, pygmy marmosets have long, forward-facing incisors that are the same length as their fangs.

The fur on pygmy marmosets is thick, tan-colored with yellow and green striations, and the undersides are usually orange in color, although they can vary from almost white to tan. The tufts of hair that look like a mane are usually dark brown or gray. Their coloration provides great camouflage for their life in the canopy.

Head and body length of pygmy marmosets: 11-15cm, tail length: 17-22 cm. Weight ranges from 113 to 190 g and averages 124 g.

Pygmy marmosets feed on the sap and gum of trees that are located within their territories. They use their teeth and claws to make holes in tree trunks. The pygmy marmosets then wait for the juice to begin oozing out of the hole they created. The tree sap that they lick is the most important food in their diet, without which they cannot survive in nature.

Pygmy marmosets also eat available animal food such as: spiders, butterflies, grasshoppers, frogs, lizards, snails, a little, while various types grasshoppers are their favorite delicacy. To catch a grasshopper, pygmy marmosets usually even risk descending from a tree to the ground, although in other situations they rarely do this. They catch pygmy marmosets and butterflies, which flock to the sap secreted from the trees, becoming easy prey for marmosets.

In fact, pygmy marmosets spend 67 percent of their feeding time feeding on tree sap and gum or preparing new sources of sap. Gum is especially important to pygmy marmosets because their home ranges are so small and fruit poor that they cannot provide a fruit diet throughout the year.

Pygmy marmosets drink constantly fresh water. They find it on shoots or flowers. The most important vitamins needed for pygmy marmosets are A and D3. They get them from the sun or the plants they eat. Calcium is an important mineral for them, which pygmy marmosets obtain from tree gums.

The diet of pygmy marmosets in zoos consists of canned food, mealworm larvae, grapes, oranges, apples, bananas, peas, cauliflower and arabic gum syrup. In addition, they are sometimes given boiled eggs, yogurt, meat, fish and rice.

Pygmy marmosets are diurnal and arboreal animals. They are active and agile creatures, running and jumping among tree branches and bushes. They are capable of vertical jumps up to 5m.

Pygmy marmosets move through trees in a vertical quadripedal position. Their forelimbs are shorter than their hind limbs and they often feed while firmly attached to a trunk or branch with their sharp claws, which are found on all of the toes except the big toe, which has a flat nail.

Their camouflage protective coloring and small size, along with impetuous, squirrel-like movements, sloth-like “seeping” along tree highways and hiding - all this makes them one of the most difficult prey for predators.

In nature, when pygmy marmosets are in trees, they are very active and sociable. The trees' long, flexible branches allow them to swing and move back and forth across the tree canopy.

Lower tier tropical forest, with numerous branches densely intertwined with vines, provides pygmy marmosets with the perfect place to feed, sleep and rest. Therefore, pygmy marmosets prefer to settle in forest plantations with developed undergrowth and the lower layer of the tropical forest, they usually avoid forest habitats with thick branches.

Pygmy marmosets do not like to be disturbed too much, so they feel quite uncomfortable in zoos.
Pygmy marmosets are extremely social, and often socialize during feeding times. There are many types of communication. One challenge is the open-mouth trill: during which the lips are partially open and the tongue vibrates between them. Another trill is played with the mouth closed and can only be heard when the marmoset is calm and when moving through the forest. Twitter is another challenge that aims to communicate with other marmosets.

In addition to high-pitched whistles and chirps, pygmy marmosets also emit a supersonic call that expresses hostility, which is almost imperceptible to humans. The main vocal signals of pygmy marmosets include: an open-mouthed trill, which indicates alarm; trill with closed mouth– contact; Twitter - humility.

Due to their extremely small body size, pygmy marmosets are pursued by some predatory animals and especially by climbing tree snakes. But the main predators of pygmy marmosets are birds of prey. In some cases, when a terrestrial or arboreal predator is detected, they exhibit group behavior (mob), with the entire group of marmosets slowly moving towards the impostor, singing loudly and lunging towards it until they force it to retreat; in other cases, they freeze and hide until the threat has passed.

Their main threat is habitat destruction, despite the fact that they easily adapt to environmental changes caused by human activities. For example, they have been found living in clumps of trees on the edges of farm plots. A significant threat to pygmy marmosets is the pet trade.

In nature, life expectancy does not exceed 10 years. The maximum longevity of marmosets in captivity is 18.6 years.

Pygmy marmosets live in groups of 5-12 members, which include a monogamous pair: a male and a female, and young up to four generations. Sometimes there are two males in a group, but one is necessarily dominant over the other and limits access to the female.

Pygmy marmosets are very territorial, they live in their own territories, which usually range in area from 25 to 100 acres (0.1-0.4 km2). Typically, the territories of different groups of marmosets do not overlap, but are usually isolated. Pygmy marmosets protect their territories using scent glands, vocal (sound) calls, displays, in particular showing their genitals to opponents.

Olfactory communication is one of the factors in maintaining territorial boundaries. The marmoset rubs secretions from glands located on the chest and suprapubic region into tree branches, marking its territory.

Seasonality in reproduction is not expressed. The dominant female secretes a hormone that suppresses ovulation in other females. During courtship, male pygmy marmosets present their genitalia: they display their anal region towards their mate by raising their tail to display their genitals. Only marmosets show their genitals during contact with sexual partners.

Mating between the dominant male and female often takes place during postpartum estrus, which occurs as early as about three weeks after parturition. The dominant female is the only female of the group that produces offspring. The presence of an adult dominant female usually prevents ovulation in other females in the group.

Some scientists believe that the female mates with only one male, i.e. their relationship is monogamous. Other scientists insist that a dominant female may mate with more than one male, suggesting a polygamous mating system.

Females after 119-140 days of pregnancy, an average of 125 days (4.5 months), usually give birth to twins, less often triplets, and although the female can feed them, usually 1, rarely 2 cubs survive in nature. Newborn cubs are naked, blind and weigh only 16 g. Despite this, this is the largest relative weight of cubs compared to other primates: the weight of the cub is a sixth of the weight of the female!

Baby marmosets are completely helpless and require constant care for the first two weeks, although they do need to be nursed for the first three weeks. After the first 24 hours of the babies being on the female, the young most often move to adult males or other young animals from their family group, and return to their mother only for short time for feeding and care. This practice eases the mother's energy expenditure, thus allowing her to rest and at the same time providing motherhood practice to young immature females.

After about three months, the young are practically independent, but they usually remain with the group for two more birth cycles. A female can have other babies within 5-7 months after the previous litter. Juveniles become sexually mature at 12-18 months, but usually begin to take part in defoliation at the age of two years, when they generally reach adult size.

IN lately familiar pets: hamsters, cats and dogs fade into the background, giving way to more exotic pets. One of these overseas inhabitants of our houses and apartments is the pygmy marmoset. This miniature monkey is gradually gaining more and more popularity, despite the high price of the monkey and some difficulties in its maintenance.

Habitat

In conditions wildlife marmosets can be found in the upper reaches of the Amazon, in the southern regions of Colombia and Ecuador, in the north of Bolivia and Peru, as well as in western regions Brazil. The smallest monkeys in the world prefer to live in trees and, in very rare cases, go down, so as not to expose themselves to the danger of being eaten by predators.

Description

Marmosets are fragile and miniature primates. Their weight is in the range of 100-150 g, and their body length is no more than 13-15 cm. The monkeys have an incredibly long tail for their small body, the length of which is from 17 to 23 cm. The eyes of the monkey are large and almond-shaped. This gives the monkey a slightly surprised and incredibly cute expression on his face. The body of the animal is covered with thick fur of golden brown color. The marmoset's head is decorated with a thick mane, which is formed by more long bunches wool The primate's ears are small, so they are almost invisible.

Did you know? Grooming, or ritual searching of marmosets' fur, is a special action that signifies trust and affection.

Requirements for a terrarium

Temperature The terrarium should be 25-29°C, air humidity - 60%. The marmoset’s “house” must be protected from drafts. These miniature monkeys love movement, so the terrarium must have large number various branches and snags on which the monkeys will willingly jump.

In addition, the monkey’s habitat must have a sufficient number of shelters where it can hide if something scares it. Such secret places are very important for the psychological comfort of the animal.

Marmosets are paired animals, so if you decide to buy a marmoset, you should be prepared for the fact that you will have two pets at once. Therefore, a terrarium for a couple should be as spacious as possible: at least a meter in length and two meters in height.

These little ones are extremely active during the day and may suffer from lack of sunlight. Therefore, it is best to place the terrarium on the sunny side of the apartment and provide it with special lamps.

It is necessary to clean the terrarium at least once a month, the rest of the time you should simply replace the contaminated soil as needed.

Important! Irregular cleaning of the terrarium can lead to the fact that marmosets will begin to mark the territory, trying to kill someone else's smell.

Behavior and lifestyle

The rhythm of life of these primates is similar to that of humans: they are active during the day and go to bed at nightfall.

While awake, they are busy jumping on branches and vines, lying in the sun and searching for food. They also spend a significant portion of their time caring for each other's fur. They live in clan groups of several generations. By nature they are shy and cautious. Despite their small size, monkeys can jump well at distances of up to a meter. You must be prepared for the fact that at first the monkeys will treat their owner with distrust. Too much violent reaction They can frighten people, so when you first get to know the marmoset, you should refrain from loud noises and sudden movements.

Feeding

In the wild, miniature monkeys eat tree sap, which they extract with their sharp teeth, gnawing the bark of trees. In captivity, the diet of marmosets consists of juicy fruits (banana, melon, mango, apple) and small insects. Monkeys love natural honey nectar, as well as fresh juices. The baby's diet can be varied with baby food (without milk, so as not to cause allergies) and cereals.

To ensure your pet has strong gums, you need to give him washed dried fruits at least once a week, and bio-yogurt for comfortable digestion. Don’t forget about adding special vitamin complexes to your diet, which your veterinarian will tell you about in more detail.

Feeding the marmoset - good way tame it, because by accepting food from a person’s hands, the marmoset begins to trust him.

Did you know?The marmoset's head can rotate 180° .

Care and hygiene

Caring for this funny baby comes down to regular cleaning of the terrarium, since these primates take care of all hygiene procedures on their own. Monkeys groom their own fur and do not need outside help.

Take care of good mood The owner of marmosets can keep their pets by purchasing a variety of toys for them (safe toys for babies are best suited). These monkeys are inquisitive and very happy about everything new.

Reproduction

The female can have several partners, so the size of the family group can reach five individuals. The group is led by the eldest female. Marmosets can breed throughout the year, with peak births occurring from May to June and October to January.

Marmosets reach puberty at two years of age. The female carries the cub for 150 days. As a rule, marmosets give birth to no more than two babies. After they are born, all members of the group help in raising them. Males carry newborns on their shoulders and bring them to the mother for feeding.

Important!It is not recommended to take your monkey outside for walks. Foreign smells, loud noises and a large number of people will become very stressful for the baby.

Attitude towards loneliness

Marmosets are social animals; living alone is not easy for them. They can become sad, get sick and even die. Therefore, it is better to purchase primates in pairs. If this is not possible, then the owner must try with all his might to compensate for this lack of communication.

Health and prevention

In the wild, the life expectancy of marmosets is no more than 11 years, in captivity, with proper care, the monkey can live up to 20 years.

The most common disease in captive monkeys is osteodystrophy, caused by an unbalanced diet (lack of vitamin D3) and lack of adequate heat and light. In addition, errors in the diet of marmosets can cause various diseases of the oral cavity.

At the first signs of an incipient disease (lethargy, decreased activity), you should contact a veterinarian.

Price

The average cost of a healthy individual with the appropriate documents fluctuates around 1500-2000 conventional units. Females are usually $200-300 more expensive than males.

Before you get this exotic pet, it’s worth weighing the pros and cons well. First of all, marmosets - expensive pleasure, secondly, they require some care, thirdly, this baby is extremely active, mobile and inquisitive, fourthly, these animals can never be completely tamed, so they cannot become loyal and safe friends for household members, especially children.

Video: pygmy marmoset

In the wide variety of the animal world, there is certainly something very special... In this article we will talk about the smallest monkey - the marmoset. Its dimensions are such that an adult specimen of this animal can easily fit in the palm of an adult. The length of the marmoset's body, excluding the tail, is a maximum of 15 cm. The tail itself is even longer - from 17 to 22 cm. The weight of this baby is from 100 to 150 g. The body is covered with dense and thick hair. The coat of the common marmoset has a reddish tint; in some individuals the coat may have greenish inclusions, black or white spots.

On the monkey’s miniature face, tufts of hairs are visible in several places. The marmoset's eyes are round and expressive, its ears are hidden by thick fur. The paws, like the human palm, have 5 thin and short fingers with sharp claws. Wild marmosets have to climb trees a lot, clinging to branches with their paws and tail.

Under natural conditions, marmosets form small colonies. The animals are peaceful and friendly, happily jumping on branches and caring for their fur and their relatives. Marmosets can jump far. The length of one monkey's jump can be up to 2 meters. These animals communicate with each other using sounds that are similar to birds chirping. According to research data, marmosets are capable of making up to 10 different sounds.

Marmosets mark their territorial possessions with a secretion produced by special glands. Wars for territory occur between the colonies of these animals, and quite brutal ones. Small primates do not favor uninvited guests.

If a marmoset gets angry, its back arches and its fur rises. The leader of the pack frowns angrily and twitches his ears. A raised tail shows that its owner is ready to attack. But this behavior is not typical for marmosets; these primates are more fearful than aggressive. In the wild, the sounds of their communication are barely audible. Only in case of severe fright do the monkeys squeal deafeningly.

What types of marmosets are there?

About 40 species of these monkeys are known. Most often they talk about dwarf, common and white-eared marmosets. The southern shores of the Amazon and Colombia are considered the homeland of these little monkeys. Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.

Colonies of marmosets settle on the banks of rivers that overflow during the rainy seasons. Animals feel great at temperatures of 19 – 25 degrees with a significant amount of precipitation. Some varieties have adapted to exist in the harsh climate of the northern shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Marmosets love water, but are also able to tolerate periods of drought, which here last 8-10 months. In arid areas, monkeys almost never descend to the ground, but jump from branch to branch not high from the surface. It is dangerous for them to climb high - you can become prey to feathered predators.

Marmosets live in the hollows of trees with a dense deciduous crown. At night the monkeys sleep and begin their activity at sunrise. During daylight hours They sunbathe, brush each other's fur and search for food.

Reproduction

From the age of two, females begin to choose a partner for procreation. The cub is gestated for about 150 days. The reproduction of these small animals is not seasonal; offspring from one female can appear twice a year. Two or three babies are born at one time. The father is responsible for raising the offspring, but the whole flock takes care of the babies. The female only feeds the newborns and restores her strength.

Newly born baby marmosets weigh about 14 grams. From the moment of birth and during the first few months of life, little monkeys hang on their mother’s belly to be closer to the milk. After gaining a little strength, the cubs move onto their father’s back and remain there until they are six months old. A month after birth, baby marmosets molt; after molting, their coat becomes the same as that of adults. Three months after birth, the cubs should be able to walk on their own. If this does not happen and the baby does not want to walk, he is forced to do so.

Six months after birth, little marmosets can eat the same food as adults. At the age of 1 year, monkeys begin puberty. After another six months they become completely independent. After two years, individuals reach sexual maturity and are ready to start their own family.

A healthy marmoset monkey lives 10–12 years. The record life expectancy of these animals is 18.5 years (that’s how long a pet of one zoo lived). Baby marmosets often die - out of 100 newborns, only 67 survive. The animals are on the verge of extinction, as their habitats are destroyed. Lion marmosets are already very few in number.

Keeping at home

Monkeys feel comfortable at temperatures above 20 degrees, because in natural environment Their habitat is always warm and humid. Special attention It is worth paying attention to the cleanliness of the cage - the marmoset’s home needs regular cleaning. Animals are hostile to the smell of old excrement and begin to intensively mark their possessions. There must be a secluded place in the cage. The marmoset is easily frightened - and then it looks for a place to hide.

What to feed your marmoset?

In their natural habitat, marmosets are practically omnivorous. They readily eat frogs, small rodents, chicks, and many fruits and berries. They drink tree sap and look for gum and resins for delicacy. Monkeys can collect mushrooms and flower nectar. The main source of protein for them are larvae and small insects.

To obtain tree sap, which is like a delicacy for marmosets, monkeys gnaw the bark, and even more sap is released.

In the wild, small groups of monkeys go out in search of food. Used for drinking rainwater that accumulates on plants. Miniature marmosets easily reach fruits and seeds along the thinnest branches.

At home, vitamins A and D3 must be added to the marmoset’s diet. It is enough to give 1 drop per day. Overdose of drugs should not be allowed.

The diet of marmosets should be varied. It is enough to feed once a day - at lunchtime, or twice - in the morning and in the evening. The offered food is offered cut into small pieces.

There should be fresh water or milk in the drinking bowl.

About once every three days, the marmoset should be given insects, a multivitamin solution and half a grape.