The Smallest Monkeys in the World

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Environmental Graffiti Will be Changing Dramatically Soon. Get a Sneak Preview By Signing Up Here.

marmoset monkey
Image from Frösö Zoo via DRB

If you’re a sucker for cute furry animals then you’ll be in for a treat over at Dark Roasted Blend, who this week have collated a spread of some of the not-so-well-known primates of the planet.

The “Aww” inducing list includes the titchy thumb-sized pygmy marmoset monkey, named after the French word marmouset, which means shrimp, or dwarf, “They range in length from 5 to 6 inches not including the tail, which is an amazing 6 to 8 inches,” say DRB. There are 18 recorded species of marmoset and, unlike other monkeys they have claws rather than nails, tactile hairs on their wrists and lack wisdom teeth, making them slightly more primitive than other monkeys.

Rare Albino Pygmy Marmoset Twins
rare albino marmoset
Image from Frösö Zoo via National Geographic

Pygmy marmosets are found in the rainforests of Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Columbia. They live in the upper canopy of the forest, no doubt to steer clear of bigger, heavier predators, and survive on an omnivorous diet of fruit, leaves, insects, small reptiles and their favorite nibble, tree sap. Specialized incisors enable the marmoset to gnaw through even the toughest tree bark, allowing easy access to their favorite gummy fluid.

Adult Marmoset Monkey

Image via Davidson College

Living in groups of two to six, usually consisting of a breeding pair plus their offspring, marmoset families are fiercely territorial often defending an area of up to 100 acres – that’s a lot of rainforest for the midget mammals. Don’t expect to see them in the wild though; they’re nippy little blighters and move like lighting through the trees, so you’ll have to make do with these sweet pics instead.

Source 1, 2, 3

If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed? We’ll even throw in a free album.

animals of south america, marmoset monkey, pygmy marmoset, smallest monkey, smallest primates

You Might Also Like Our Friends' Posts From the Intertubes
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else.”

This post was written by:

Linda McCormick - who has written 175 posts on Environmental Graffiti.

Linda is a writer and editor, currently based in London. Growing up in N Ireland, she craved sunnier climes so set off around the world, forever chasing the sun. On her travels she discovered she was much more passionate about the environment than she realised – although never quite got the whole tree-hugging thing – and has always had a penchant for the unconventional and creative side of life, so working at Environmental Graffiti suits her just fine.

Contact the author

Dan Says:
January 30th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Mr. McCormick, you misspelled Colombia!! it’s not “Columbia”!!
and you are an editor???
Dmitry Says:
February 1st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I would really like to travel to Amazonas and see all this things and more. Even living in Brazil it is very far from where I live. My city doesn’t have almost any forest.
Anwarboy11 Says:
March 10th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I WANT ONE!!!!
annyonomus Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 1:09 am
i would love to have one of those little monkeys they look so cute
victoria Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Hi. I just have to say im a #1 fan of monkeys and the jonas and hannah montana!! They are adorble plus i would never want to own because they attack you the only 1s i would want to own is baby monkeys or any monkey that doesnt attack hahaha!!! My mom wont let me get 1 one though ,but i get to go to a jonas brothers concert in july and a hannah montana concert in november! sorry i just had to tell you that they are awesome!!! ok rock on like miley always says lol xoxoxo victoria.
lacey Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
OMG omg its soo cute i wish i had my own my mum saw one a few days ago and they are so tiny i could put it in my pocket and run away
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Elizabeth Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
i love monkeys expeshily small ones now seeing them i want one
kennnedy Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
i want the pygmy marmoset how much would they be ill even take em for fee
kimberly sanchez Says:
November 13th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
they are so cute and i would love 2 have one of my own. they look so nice and so furry they look like a teddy bear that is very small i wonder how much tyhey coudt then i bought one the other day and i woneder how long its gonna live well thats it 4 now until the next time on friday love the pple and hope 2 have sell more thtan a 1thounds in the whold intrie world bye l;ove my ppls see ya
lanetta Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I too am a small monkey

1 Trackbacks For This Post

Cow Urine Soda | ZapRoot 078 | ZapRoot Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
[...] PlanetSave – Grey Squirels Sustainablog – Perdue Farms and the EPA PlanetSave – Declining Mammals Pygmy Marmosets Platypus Nigeria Car Robbery Goat addthis_url = [...]

Environmental Graffiti