Finger monkey
Don’t let a finger monkey’s looks fool you. Its claws are extremely sharp, and when a provoked, these pygmy marmosets can wreak havoc like you’ve never seen.
The pygmy marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea) ranks in as the world’s smallest known monkey.
Where does the world’s smallest true monkey live?
The marmoset is native to the Upper Amazon basin east of the Andes in Columbia, Peru, Northern Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador. They live in trees, although it is rare to spot a marmoset in branches higher up than 60 feet, as they prefer to make their nests and forage in the lower branches.
Characteristics of the pygmy marmoset
Commonly referred to as a finger monkey, this adult primate weighs between four and seven ounces, measures a whopping five inches in length and sports an additional eight inch long tail. The pygmy marmoset's head is round and it has very small round ears. Its face is expressive, with wide cat-like eyes, small flat nose and U-shaped mouth.
Covered in light brownish-gray fur with bits of yellow and green mixed in, its coloring gives the marmoset the perfect color blend for camouflaging itself within the foliage of trees. There is little difference in color or body size between the males and females, and both have long hair on their heads and chests which makes them look as though they have a lion-type mane. Their tails are ringed, with darker fur, similar to the tail of a raccoon.
Finger monkeys behave much like squirrels. They are active during the day, can be seen dodging around trees, speeding willy-nilly across tree limbs, zipping up and down the tree trunks and freezing when faced with danger from a potential predator.The average lifespan of a finger monkey is 11-15 years, however, some are known to live up to 25 years.
The finger monkey uses its sharp claws to move between bigger branches or move up on trees. Its diet includes leaves, nectar of flowers, fruits, insects, spiders, small lizards, and sometimes, small reptiles. Food habits also include drinking plant sap and eating gum from trees. The finger monkey spends most of the day making inch-deep holes in the bark of trees with the help of sharp, lower incisors.
Mating, breeding and other social interactions
Unlike many other monkeys, marmosets are monogamous, which is a fairly rare trait among many mammals and primates.
Females usually give birth to twins, but occasionally one or even three infants have been born at one time. Gestation time is about 136 days, and litters can be produced about every five months. The father is very helpful and takes a major role in caring for infants. Babies weigh about half an ounce at birth, and will continue to nurse for the first three months of life. They reach sexual maturity in about 18 months, and will generally stick with the family group through two birth cycles, which gives them the chance to observe, learn and practice caring for a newborn.
Marmosets are usually very docile creatures. They live in small groups of two to six individuals. These groups are normally made up of an adult pair and their children. They are a territorial animal and tend to defend their turf by aggressive displays, chattering or calling in high-pitched bird like voices and chasing away unwanted visitors. Mutual grooming has been documented as being part of their social bonding process.
Pygmy marmosets in nature and as pets
Finger monkeys are docile and social little creatures that mate for life, live in family groups and care for their young. Due to their tiny size and appealing appearance, these small monkeys are among the many different species of wild animals that are often hunted, captured and imported into the exotic animal trade market.A pet finger monkey needs a lot of attention. Like other primates, the finger monkey is not well-behaved initially, but can be trained. The habits that your finger monkey will learn in the first two years, will stay with it through its life. You should be able to devote some time and be patient with your new pet.