Photo: Image from Frösö Zoo via DRB
Photo: Tambako the Jaguar
Photo: Image via Davidson College
Photo: Nicholas Doumani
Photo: Image via Davidson College 
Photo: Nicholas Doumani 
Photo: Image from Frösö Zoo via National Geographic 
Photo: Tambako the Jaguar 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.
Rare Albino Pygmy Marmoset Twins
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.
Adult pygmy marmoset at Wilhelm Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany.
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.
Adult Marmoset Monkey
Specialized incisors enable the marmoset to gnaw through even the toughest tree bark, allowing easy access to their favorite gummy fluid.
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.
Adult pygmy marmoset
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.
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11 comments
Dmitry (not verified) says:
Feb 1st, 2009 at 8pm
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.
annyonomus (not verified) says:
May 5th, 2009 at 1am
i would love to have one of those little monkeys they look so cute
victoria (not verified) says:
Jun 22nd, 2009 at 10pm
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 (not verified) says:
Jul 6th, 2009 at 11am
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 (not verified) says:
Jul 8th, 2009 at 6pm
i love monkeys expeshily small ones now seeing them i want one
kennnedy (not verified) says:
Oct 16th, 2009 at 4pm
i want the pygmy marmoset how much would they be ill even take em for fee
kimberly sanchez (not verified) says:
Nov 13th, 2009 at 6pm
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
Laurel R says:
Aug 27th, 2010 at 2pm
The babies are adorable! I've seen pygmy marmosets before, but never babies. I can only imagine how small they must be.
Dan (not verified) says:
Mr. McCormick, you misspelled Colombia!! it's not "Columbia"!!
and you are an editor???