Marmoset Monkey Habitat

Marmosets relaxing in the trees, a key part of their natural habitat

The marmoset is only found in Central and South American tropical forests. Habitats vary from species to species, but as a general rule they favor tree filled areas, such as mountain and valley regions. These primates range in size from 7 to 16 inches with a tail 7 1/2 to 15 inches long. They weigh anywhere from 120 to 710 gs. They are predominantly located in areas of South America's Amazon region.

Atlantic Marmoset

The Atlantic marmoset genus includes the common marmoset, black-tufted marmoset, Wied's marmoset, white-headed marmoset, buff-headed marmoset and the buffy-tufted marmoset. This group prefers edge habitats, or forests disturbed by natural disasters or human intervention (also known as secondary forests). They are known for being very adaptable and doing well in many types of habitats. For example, the common marmoset lives in forest habitats and are endemic to Brazil. Their habitat range is in the central and northeastern forests along the Atlantic coast. It extends inland across to the Rio Grande. They are found in Brazil's states of Pariba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Piaui.

Atlantic Marmoset Habitat Climate

The Atlantic marmoset habitat is predominantly in the caatinga, cerrado and Brazilian Atlantic forest regions of Brazil. In the caatinga region the temperature averages 75 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit and annual rainfall ranges from 11.8 inches to 3.28 feet. The dry season in the region lasts seven to 10 months. This climate encourages the growth of semidesert vegetation, such as thorn forests, spiny shrubs and low trees. The cerrado region's dry season is not as extreme, lasting about five months. Overall temperatures are cooler, about 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall averages 2.46 to 6.56 feet. The Brazilian Atlantic forest region's temperature ranges from 66 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and average annual rainfall is between 3.28 and 6.56 feet.

Amazonian Marmoset

The Amazonian marmoset genus includes 13 different species of marmosets, including the silvery marmoset. Each species lives in different habitats. For example, the silvery marmoset has a very small habitat range. The only place they're found in the wild is in the tropical rainforests of northern Brazil in the Amazon basin. As of 2010, their habitat was threatened due to logging in the area.

Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset

The Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset is in its own genus. It is also called the black-crowned dwarf marmoset. This marmoset lives in the Amazon rainforest on the east bank of the lower Madeira River and the west bank of Brazil's Aripuana River.

Pygmy Marmoset

Pygmy marmosets are the smallest true monkeys in the world according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. They live in tropical forests and along rivers. Their habitat range is in South American in Colombia, Peru, northern Bolivia and Brazil. These marmosets need habitats with abundant trees. They need to hide in the holes in old-growth trees to avoid predators.

References

• University of Wisconsin: Common Marmoset
• Amazon Association for the Preservation of Nature: The Description of a New Marmoset Genus
• Save the Primates: Marmosets
• Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Great Apes & Other Primates
• San Diego Zoo: Mammals Pygmy Marmoset