How to Spot a Marmoset

Marmosets, also known as new world monkeys, are small South American and Central American tree-dwelling monkeys. They live in or at the edge of dense forests, including the gallery forest, rain forest, dry forest and the savanna woodlands. They spend most of their time in the trees and only descend for prey.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Spot an adult marmoset by his appearance and size. They are small, gray monkeys with extra long, grayish-white tails. The adult weighs about 11 to 12 oz. and is approximately 5 to 7 inches long.

2. Look for the distinguishing white mark on the forehead and a bare, hairless face.

3. Notice the white tufts of hair surrounding their ears. This is the reason for their other common name, the cotton eared marmoset.

4. Keep in mind that the marmoset monkey's diet consists of insects including spiders, butterflies, mealworms, small lizards, grasshopper's fruit, sugary nectar and sap.

5. Expect marmoset monkeys to travel in large family groups. There are always more males than females, and every female will have at least one youngster with her.

6. Watch for marmosets in areas located near people, in trees by the natural edge of flooded forests or along the river. You can see them in the unnatural edge of the forest as well, created when people clear forest for pastures, crops or orchards.

7. Spot a pygmy marmoset, if you can. It has grayish brown fur, so it's difficult to see in the tree branches. Also, it weighs between 4 and 6 oz., which is equivalent to the size of a stick of butter. It's the smallest primate anywhere in America.