“Females usually give birth to twins. All the members of her group will help her to take care of the babies, but the dad helps the most.” ∼ Golden Lion Tamarins, Smithsonian Magazine
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Monkeys
Scientific name: Leontopithecus Rosalia, Cebuella Pygmaea, Saguinus Oedipus, Callithrix Jacchus
Conservation Status: Golden Lion Tamarin, Endangered Pygmy Marmoset, Vulnerable Cotton Top Tamarin, Critically Endangered Common Marmoset, Least Concern (population stable)
Get up close and personal with some of our smallest residents
We have several species of small monkeys that call Symbio Wildlife Park. These species include the Golden Lion Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Cotton Top Tamarin, and the Common Marmoset.
ABOUT
There are many species of Tamarin and Marmoset, with new species still being discovered and described today. Both of these groups only occur in Central and South America.
Many Marmosets and Tamarins form monogamous pair bonds and show substantial paternal care of young, the father often carrying the babies on his back just as much as the mother.
They range in weight from only 140 – 900 grams, however, their thick fur and long tails deceptively make them look larger and heavier. Pygmy marmosets are the smallest of all monkey species.
Both marmosets and tamarins are considered to be the most primitive monkeys. Their thumbs are not opposable, and they have claws on all digits except for their big toes, which have nails. They do not have prehensile tails and they also lack the ability to change their facial expressions. Twin births are common. All other primate species usually give birth to only one young at a time.
DIET
Tamarins and marmosets are small primates that have a diet consisting mainly of fruits, insects, and small vertebrates such as lizards and frogs. They have specialized teeth that allow them to chew through tough exoskeletons of insects. They are also known to drink tree sap and consume nectar from flowers.
To obtain their food, these primates actively forage in the trees, using their sharp eyesight and nimble fingers to locate and catch prey. They may also engage in cooperative hunting with their group members, using strategic calls and movements to trap and catch their prey. The variety of foods that tamarins and marmosets consume allows them to obtain a balanced diet with a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Monkeys
Fun Facts
- Male Marmosets and Tamarins are such doting dads, it’s not uncommon for them to lose weight while rearing the young, due to constantly caring and fussing over the babies.
- Different species of Tamarins and Marmosets often form large mixed groups, with the different species specialising in sourcing different foods for all the group members to share.
- Tamarins and marmosets are part of the Callitrichidae family of New World monkeys and are some of the smallest primates in the world.
- Tamarins and marmosets are found in Central and South America, and there are more than 30 species of these monkeys.
- They are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees, and have adapted to this lifestyle by having long tails to help with balance and specialized fingers and toes to grip onto branches.
- Tamarins and marmosets are social animals and live in family groups consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring.
- These monkeys have a unique way of communicating with each other through a wide range of vocalizations, including high-pitched calls, trills, and screams.
Distribution
New World suborder Platyrrhini, are widely distributed throughout the wooded parts of Central and South America from southern Mexico southward into Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, northeastern Argentina, Para guay, Bolivia, Peru in the Amazonian drainage system, Ecuador east of the Andes and on the west coast south to about the equator The altitudinal range is from sea level to about 3000 m above in the Colombian Andes.
Cheeky Monkeys At Symbio
If you are looking for more unforgettable experiences, we have a range of other close encounters that you won’t want to miss. With so many amazing close encounters to choose from, there is something for everyone at Symbio Wildlife Park.
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