Pygmy Marmoset

Description
It is the second smallest primate in the world. Its dense coat  is a mixture of greyish and brownish colours. The hands and feet are orange with very sharp nails for clinging to trees. The tail has dark rings on a lighter background. A longer mane of hair surrounds the face and nape of the neck. Females are slightly heavier than males.

Behaviour
Pygmy Marmosets are social animals forming small family groups of 3 to 9 individuals. Each group has a single breeding pair. The female usually has twins twice a year, and adult males and other members of the group help to transport them. The gestation lasts about 140 days and their life expectancy is about 12 years.

Interesting Facts
Their lower incisors are specially adapted to perforate the bark of trees to extract their main food source -the gum, tree sap and resin. Their populations are in steep decline due to the continuous decrease in area, extent and quality of habitat as a result of deforestation, mining and oil palm cultivation. This is compounded by the severe pressure they face from the illegal trade for sale as pets.