Common Marmoset
Encyclopedia
The common marmoset is a New World monkey
. It originally lived on the Northeastern coast of Brazil
, in the states of Piaui
, Paraiba
, Ceará
, Rio Grande do Norte
, Pernambuco
, Alagoas
and Bahia
. Through release (both intentional and unintentional) of captive individuals, it has expanded its range since the 1920s to Southeast Brazil (its first sighting in the wild for Rio de Janeiro
was in 1929) and became there an invasive species
, raising concerns about genetic pollution
of similar species such as the buffy-tufted marmoset
(Callithrix aurita) and predation upon bird nestlings and eggs.
As with other members of the genus Callithrix, the common marmosets have claw-like nails known as tegulaes on most of their fingers. Only their halluxes (big toes) have the flat nails or ungulaes that most other primates have. Marmosets have an arboreal locomotion similar to squirrels. They cling to tree vertically, run across branches quadrupedally and leap between trees. Tegulaes are an adaptation of this type of locomotion. Callitrichines also are unique in having enlarged, chisel-shaped incisors and specialized cecums for their diet.
although they show great variety in the habitats in which they can live.
s and insect
s. Common marmosets feed on gum, sap, latex, and resin the most out of the callitrichines. They use their nails to cling to the side of a tree and, with lower incisors as big as their canines, gnaw off the bark stimulate the flow of edible exudates. The marmoset will inflict a wound on the tree and lick or swoop the exudates with its teeth. 20-70% of the marmot’s foraging activities is made of eating exudates.
Exudates provide marmosets with a reliable food source in the marmoset’s seasonal habitat. Exudate foraging is especially high for January to April when fruit is scare. A marmoset may keep visiting a previously made tree wound or even use those made by other animals. In addition to exudates, insects also prove an important food source for marmosets, making 24-30% of their foraging time. The small size of the marmoset allow then to subsist on insects. They are skilled in stalking and pouncing on large, mobile insects in the understory
and middle layers of the forest. Marmosets will also eat fruits, seeds, flowers, fungi, nectar, snails, lizards, tree frogs, bird eggs, nestlings, and infant mammals. It is possible that marmosets compete for fruit with birds, such as parrots and toucan
s, and woolly opossum
s.
The breeding individuals in a group need the other members to help raise their young. Thus there is behavioral and physiological reproductive suppression of the other members of the group by the breeding pair. Since the suppressed individuals are likely related to the breeding pair, they have an incentive to care for the young as they share genes with them. In addition, the presence of a related male affects female ovulation. Laboratory studies have shown that females do not ovulate or display sexual behavior in the presence of their fathers, but do so when the father is replaced with another male. They will also display aggressive behavior towards their mothers, possibly to displace them.
When conditions are right for them to breed, adult females breed consistently for the rest of their lives. Females direct tongue-flicking displays at males to solicit mating. The gestation period lasts for five months, and females are ready to breed again around ten days after giving birth. Their inter-birth intervals last five months and they give birth twice a year. Marmosets commonly give birth to two non-identical twins. Because of this, female have high demands during pregnancy and lactation, and need help from the other members of the family. Infant marmosets have very strong cling reflexes and will not voluntarily leave their carrier’s back for the first two weeks. After that, they become very active and explore their surroundings. The breeding male (likely the father) will begin handling the twins, and all members of the family offer caregiving. In the following weeks, the young spend more time off their carrier’s back and develop locomotory behaviors, play behaviors and coordination. Infants are weaned at three months. At five months they enter their juvenile stage. At this time, they have more interactions with family members other than their parents, and play becomes rougher as their future status is being worked out. Another set of infants may be born and the previous young will carry and play with them. Marmosets become sub-adults between nine and 14 months, have full a repertoire of adult behaviors and go through puberty. At 15 months, they reach adult size and are sexually mature but can’t reproduce until social conditions are adequate.
, periodontal disease
, reproduction, immunology
, endocrinology
, obesity
, and aging.
New World monkey
New World monkeys are the five families of primates that are found in Central and South America: Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, and Atelidae. The five families are ranked together as the Platyrrhini parvorder and the Ceboidea superfamily, which are essentially synonymous since...
. It originally lived on the Northeastern coast of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in the states of Piaui
Piauí
Piauí is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country.Piauí has the shortest coastline of any of the non-landlocked Brazilian states at 66 km , and the capital, Teresina, is the only state capital in the north east to be located inland...
, Paraiba
Paraíba
Paraíba Paraíba Paraíba (Tupi: pa'ra a'íba: "bad to navigation"; Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east...
, Ceará
Ceará
Ceará is one of the 27 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is currently the 8th largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil. The state capital is the city of...
, Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern region of the country, occupying the northeasternmost tip of the South American continent. Because of its geographic position, Rio Grande do Norte has a strategic importance. The capital and largest city is Natal...
, Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, Alagoas
Alagoas
Alagoas is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil and is situated in the eastern part of the Northeast Region. It borders: Pernambuco ; Sergipe ; Bahia ; and the Atlantic Ocean . It occupies an area of 27,767 km², being slightly larger than Haiti...
and Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
. Through release (both intentional and unintentional) of captive individuals, it has expanded its range since the 1920s to Southeast Brazil (its first sighting in the wild for Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
was in 1929) and became there an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, raising concerns about genetic pollution
Genetic pollution
Genetic pollution is a controversial term for uncontrolled gene flow into wild populations. This gene flow is undesirable according to some environmentalists and conservationists, including groups such as Greenpeace, TRAFFIC, and GeneWatch UK.-Usage:...
of similar species such as the buffy-tufted marmoset
Buffy-tufted Marmoset
The buffy-tufted marmoset , also known as the buffy tufted-ear marmoset or white-eared marmoset, is a New World monkey that lives in the forests on the Atlantic coast of southeast Brazil. Of all the marmosets, they have the southernmost range.Buffy-tufted marmoset resemble common marmosets but are...
(Callithrix aurita) and predation upon bird nestlings and eggs.
Physical description and morphology
Common marmosets are very small monkeys. Males and females are of similar size with males being slightly larger. Males have an average height of 188 mm (7.40 in) and females have an average height of 185 mm (7.28 in). Males weigh 256 g (9.03 oz) on average and females weigh 236 g (8.32 oz) on average. The pelage of the marmoset is colored a blotchy brown, grey, and yellow. It also has white ear tufts and its tail is long and banded. Their faces have pale skin and have a white blaze on the forehead. At birth, infants have brown and yellow coats and develop the ear tufts as they age.As with other members of the genus Callithrix, the common marmosets have claw-like nails known as tegulaes on most of their fingers. Only their halluxes (big toes) have the flat nails or ungulaes that most other primates have. Marmosets have an arboreal locomotion similar to squirrels. They cling to tree vertically, run across branches quadrupedally and leap between trees. Tegulaes are an adaptation of this type of locomotion. Callitrichines also are unique in having enlarged, chisel-shaped incisors and specialized cecums for their diet.
Range and ecology
Common marmosets are native to Brazil. They live in the northeastern and central forests ranging from the Atlantic coast and inland into Rio Grande. They have been introduced into other areas and live within the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Marmosets can found in a number of forest habitats. They live in Atlantic coastal forests as well as semi-deciduous forests farther inland. They can also inhabit savanna forests and riverine forests. Marmosets excel in dry secondary forests and edge habitatsEdge effect
The edge effect in ecology is the effect of the juxtaposition or placing side by side of contrasting environments on an ecosystem.This term is commonly used in conjunction with the boundary between natural habitats, especially forests, and disturbed or developed land. Edge effects are especially...
although they show great variety in the habitats in which they can live.
Diet
The common marmoset’s claw-like nails, incisor shape, and gut specialization reflect their unique diet which is primarily made of plant exudateExudate
An exudate is any fluid that filters from the circulatory system into lesions or areas of inflammation. It can apply to plants as well as animals. Its composition varies but generally includes water and the dissolved solutes of the main circulatory fluid such as sap or blood...
s and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. Common marmosets feed on gum, sap, latex, and resin the most out of the callitrichines. They use their nails to cling to the side of a tree and, with lower incisors as big as their canines, gnaw off the bark stimulate the flow of edible exudates. The marmoset will inflict a wound on the tree and lick or swoop the exudates with its teeth. 20-70% of the marmot’s foraging activities is made of eating exudates.
Exudates provide marmosets with a reliable food source in the marmoset’s seasonal habitat. Exudate foraging is especially high for January to April when fruit is scare. A marmoset may keep visiting a previously made tree wound or even use those made by other animals. In addition to exudates, insects also prove an important food source for marmosets, making 24-30% of their foraging time. The small size of the marmoset allow then to subsist on insects. They are skilled in stalking and pouncing on large, mobile insects in the understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
and middle layers of the forest. Marmosets will also eat fruits, seeds, flowers, fungi, nectar, snails, lizards, tree frogs, bird eggs, nestlings, and infant mammals. It is possible that marmosets compete for fruit with birds, such as parrots and toucan
Toucan
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...
s, and woolly opossum
Woolly opossum
The three species in the genus Caluromys, commonly known as woolly opossums, are members of the Didelphimorphia order.-Species and Subspecies:* Subgenus Mallodelphys**Derby's Woolly Opossum, Caluromys derbianus...
s.
Social organization
Common marmosets live in stable extended families with a few breeding individuals and a flexible mating system. A marmoset group can contain as many as 15 members, but a more typical number is nine. A marmoset family usually contains a 1-2 breeding females, a breeding male, their offspring and their adult relatives, be it their parents or siblings. The females in a group tend to be closely related and males less so. Males do not mate with breeding females that they are related to. Marmosets may leave their natal groups when they become adults, in contrast to other primate species who leave at adolescence. Not much is known of the reasons marmosets leave their natal groups. Family groups will break apart and separate into new groups when a breeding male dies. Within the family groups, the breeding individuals tend to be more dominant. The breeding male and female tend to be co-dominant. However if there is more than one breeding female, one will be dominant over the other. In addition, the subordinate female is usually the daughter of the dominant one. For the non-breeding members, social rank is based on age. Dominance is maintained though various behaviors, postures and vocalizations and subordinates will groom their superiors.Reproduction and parenting
Common marmosets have a complex mating system. It was thought that they were monogamous, however polygamy (of both types) has also been observed. Nevertheless, most matings are monogamous. Even in groups with two breeding females, the subordinate female often mates with males from other groups. The pregnancies of subordinate females usually do not result in viable offspring. Nevertheless, this pattern of mating with extra-group males may be a strategy to identify potential future mates. Females that mate successfully but lose their young move to other groups and may gain dominant breeding positions.The breeding individuals in a group need the other members to help raise their young. Thus there is behavioral and physiological reproductive suppression of the other members of the group by the breeding pair. Since the suppressed individuals are likely related to the breeding pair, they have an incentive to care for the young as they share genes with them. In addition, the presence of a related male affects female ovulation. Laboratory studies have shown that females do not ovulate or display sexual behavior in the presence of their fathers, but do so when the father is replaced with another male. They will also display aggressive behavior towards their mothers, possibly to displace them.
When conditions are right for them to breed, adult females breed consistently for the rest of their lives. Females direct tongue-flicking displays at males to solicit mating. The gestation period lasts for five months, and females are ready to breed again around ten days after giving birth. Their inter-birth intervals last five months and they give birth twice a year. Marmosets commonly give birth to two non-identical twins. Because of this, female have high demands during pregnancy and lactation, and need help from the other members of the family. Infant marmosets have very strong cling reflexes and will not voluntarily leave their carrier’s back for the first two weeks. After that, they become very active and explore their surroundings. The breeding male (likely the father) will begin handling the twins, and all members of the family offer caregiving. In the following weeks, the young spend more time off their carrier’s back and develop locomotory behaviors, play behaviors and coordination. Infants are weaned at three months. At five months they enter their juvenile stage. At this time, they have more interactions with family members other than their parents, and play becomes rougher as their future status is being worked out. Another set of infants may be born and the previous young will carry and play with them. Marmosets become sub-adults between nine and 14 months, have full a repertoire of adult behaviors and go through puberty. At 15 months, they reach adult size and are sexually mature but can’t reproduce until social conditions are adequate.
Communication
Common marmosets employ a number of vocal and visual communications. To signal alarm, aggression, and submission, marmosets use the "partial open mouth stare," "frown," and "slit-stare", respectively. To display fear or submission, marmosets flatten their ear-tufts close to their heads. Marmosets have two alarm calls: a series of short ascending calls called "staccatos", and brief descending calls given either alone or in a series. These are called "tsiks". Marmoset alarm calls tend to be brief and high-pitched. Marmosets monitor and locate group members with generic calls called "trills". They have a lower pitch and cyclic frequency fluctuations that give them a distinctive vibrato sound. Marmosets also employ "phees" which are generic calls made of a series of one to five notes that last about two seconds each and play a role in long-range communication, mate attraction, group cohesion, territorial defense, and finding of lost group members. Marmosets will mark objects with secretions from specialized scent glands on their chests and around their anus and genitals. These are meant to convey social status, and advertise reproductive status.Status
The common marmoset remains an abundant species and is not currently threatened in any part of its range. Nevertheless its habitat had been degraded at a large rate, with least 67% of the cerrado region converted to human use in the 1990s and around 80% cleared for agriculture more recently.In addition, marmosets are caught and sold in pet trades. Though attractive as pets, they become destructive as they age and are thus abandoned or killed. Common marmosets have also been used for medical experiments. They are used as such in Europe more so than in the United States, as they are the most frequently used non-human primate in research laboratories there. They are used as model organisms in areas of research such as teratologyTeratology
Teratology is the study of abnormalities of physiological development. It is often thought of as the study of human birth defects, but it is much broader than that, taking in other non-birth developmental stages, including puberty; and other non-human life forms, including plants.- Etymology :The...
, periodontal disease
Periodontal disease
Periodontitis is a set of inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium, i.e., the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth...
, reproduction, immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
, endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
, obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, and aging.