Fun Facts!

Aware of the responsibility of caring for their young, an adult marmoset carrying a youngster on its back will almost never forage for food.

Kuhli’s Marmoset

Callithrix p. kuhli

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

These small animals have black tufted ears that look like pigtails. They have grey-white cheeks, a white forehead and a black-grey body. The tail is black with white rings. This marmoset uses all four limbs to move, but occasionally leaps between branches and trees, as much as nine feet. Adults weigh up to a pound.

HABITAT

This animal is native to the forests of Eastern Brazilian coastal areas and a small section along the Atlantic Coast. A few can also be found in lowland evergreens and around the forests edge. A marmoset spends most of its time in the trees, although it will forage for food on the ground.

DIET IN THE WILD

They eat insects and can eat both fruits and flowers. Occasionally they will eat lizards, snails and frogs.

BEHAVIOR

The Kuhli’s marmoset community seems involved in rearing their young. Adult pairs and their offspring constitute a family group, but the adults in the community share duties such as carrying them, warming them, making sure they are fed and protecting them. When groups encounter one another, individuals will chase each other and it ends when they face each other, raising their tails and twittering while flicking their heads. But these marmosets are peaceful and the encounters rarely involve fights.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

They are plentiful and are not protected. Work is being done to prevent deforestation and to get local people involved in their conservation.

LIFE SPAN

They can live to between 11-17 years old.