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Marmoset

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Marmosets are small monkeys from South America. They belong to a group called Callitrichidae. There are twenty-two different species in this group. Some belong to the genus Callithrix, while others are in Mico, Callibella, or Cebuella.

They are also known as zaris or sagoin. Some people use the name marmoset for Goeldi's marmoset too. These monkeys are very active animals. They live high up in the forest canopy.

These monkeys have a special way of eating. They love to eat sap and gum from trees. Marmosets use long front teeth to chew holes in wood. This helps them reach the sweet sap inside. They also eat fruit, leaves, and insects.

Smaller species hunt for bugs at the very top of the trees. Their body temperature can change a lot in one day. They also have claws instead of nails. They even have tiny hairs on their wrists.

Scientists have found something amazing about marmoset twins. Most fraternal twins in these groups share blood. This happens through something called chorionic fusions. This makes them hematopoietic chimeras. This means they share different types of cells.

This is not known to happen in any other primates. It is a very rare thing in nature. It shows how unique these little monkeys really are.

Marmosets live in family groups of three to 15 members. These groups have one or two breeding females. They also have a male and their babies. Sometimes, extended family members live with them too.

Fathers are very helpful parents in these groups. They help the mothers when babies are born. They even help clean the newborn babies. Other adults also help carry the infants around. This cooperative care helps the whole family stay strong.

Communication is very important for these monkeys. They use chirps and trills to talk. They also make a special sound called a "phee" call.

This call is used to talk over long distances. It helps them find where their friends are. Marmosets even use different "phee" calls for different friends. This is very much like how humans use names. It helps every member of the group stay connected.

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