Geoffroy’s Marmoset

ANIMAL:
Geoffroy’s Marmoset Callithrix geoffroyi

Type of Animal:
New World Monkey

Habitat:
Forest, forest edge, dry forest areas/patches in desert scrub/caatinga/other dry areas, found from sea level to 2,624.67 ft

Location(s):
E Brazil in Bahia, Espirito Santo, & Minas Gerais. Introduced to Santa Catarina.

Appearance:
White head/cheeks/throat (also called White-Headed Marmoset), black ear tufts(another name Tufted-Ear Marmoset), blackish to grayish-black to blackish-dark brown coat often mottled w/ yellow-orange, dark brown underbelly, lightly ringed black tail

Food/Diet:
Plant gum, plant exudates, sap, resin, fruit, flowers, nectar, tree buds, frogs, snails, lizards, insects, insect larvae, arachnids, eggs, young/small birds, small mammals, crustaceans

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks

Lifestyle:
Family troops consist of monogamous pair w/ 3-4 sets of offspring (usually twins in each set)

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Infant
Group: Troop

Weight:
Male: 8.11-12.34 oz
Female: 6.7 oz
 
Gestation:
4.5 months 

Life Span:
10 years

Height:
8 in

Body Length:
8 in

Tail Length:
11 in

Main predators are raptors, felids, snakes, & mustelids.
 
Claws help them cling to tree trunks.
 
Large incisors used as chisel to collect tree gum/sap.
 
Besides being called White-Headed Marmoset & Tufted-Ear Marmoset, also called Sagui or Sauim
 
Like many monkeys, they’re active during the day (diurnal).
 
Use alarm calls when threats perceived-these include “staccatos,” “tsiks,” & high-pitched vocalizations. Other calls very loud, high-pitched whistles & lower-pitched “trill” calls used to monitor group members/determine location.
 
Use many modes of visual communication-bouncing gait is playful, open-mouth expressions common during play, tufts/ears flick in agonistic situations, tufts/ears flatten as response to agonistic situations, tail raising common in aggressive/agonistic interactions.
 
Sexually mature at a year old.
 
Courtship involves sniffing each other, marking objects, huddling, & grooming.
 
Females usually give birth to twins but sometimes give birth to singletons or triplets.
 
Sometimes used in lab research.
 
React to predators w/ freezing, fleeing, monitoring, alarm calls, & mobbing.

Fun Fact(s):
Have been persecuted due to assumption they carry yellow fever & malaria.
 
Considered subspecies of Common Marmoset until 1988.
 
Dad sole carrier for 1st week after young born only giving them to mom for nursing. After 1st week dad primary carrier but older siblings start carrying them too. Mom’s main role nursing/feeding.
 
Like all monkeys, they don’t make good pets.
Geoffroy’s Marmoset, stock photo

68 thoughts on “Geoffroy’s Marmoset”

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