Jump to content

Marmoset: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m Reverted edits by 98.122.129.73 to last revision by Alexbot (HG)
No edit summary
Line 14: Line 14:


'''Marmosets''' are the 25 [[New World monkey]] species of the [[genus|genera]] ''[[Callithrix]]'', ''[[Cebuella]]'', ''[[Callibella]]'', and ''[[Mico (genus)|Mico]]''. All four genera are part of the biological [[family (biology)|family]] [[Callitrichidae]]. The term ''marmoset'' is also used in reference to the [[Goeldi's Monkey]], ''Callimico goeldii'', which is closely related.
'''Marmosets''' are the 25 [[New World monkey]] species of the [[genus|genera]] ''[[Callithrix]]'', ''[[Cebuella]]'', ''[[Callibella]]'', and ''[[Mico (genus)|Mico]]''. All four genera are part of the biological [[family (biology)|family]] [[Callitrichidae]]. The term ''marmoset'' is also used in reference to the [[Goeldi's Monkey]], ''Callimico goeldii'', which is closely related.
gfg

Most marmosets are about {{convert|20|cm}} long. Relative to other [[monkey]]s, they show some apparently primitive features: they have [[claw]]s rather than [[nail (anatomy)|nail]]s, and tactile hairs on their wrists. They lack [[wisdom tooth|wisdom teeth]], and their [[brain]] layout seems to be relatively primitive. Their body temperature is unusually variable, changing by up to 4 °C (7 °F) in a day.
Most marmosets are about {{convert|20|cm}} long. Relative to other [[monkey]]s, they show some apparently primitive features: they have [[claw]]s rather than [[nail (anatomy)|nail]]s, and tactile hairs on their wrists. They lack [[wisdom tooth|wisdom teeth]], and their [[brain]] layout seems to be relatively primitive. Their body temperature is unusually variable, changing by up to 4 °C (7 °F) in a day.



Revision as of 14:29, 21 September 2009

Marmosets[1][2]
Common Marmoset
(Callithrix jacchus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
in part

Marmosets are the 25 New World monkey species of the genera Callithrix, Cebuella, Callibella, and Mico. All four genera are part of the biological family Callitrichidae. The term marmoset is also used in reference to the Goeldi's Monkey, Callimico goeldii, which is closely related. gfg Most marmosets are about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long. Relative to other monkeys, they show some apparently primitive features: they have claws rather than nails, and tactile hairs on their wrists. They lack wisdom teeth, and their brain layout seems to be relatively primitive. Their body temperature is unusually variable, changing by up to 4 °C (7 °F) in a day.

According to recent research, marmosets exhibit germline chimerism, which is not known to occur in nature in any other primate.[3]

Behavior

Ecological

Marmosets are highly active, living in the upper canopy of forest trees, and feeding on insects, fruit and leaves. They have long lower incisors, which allow them to chew holes in tree trunks and branches to harvest the gum inside; some species are specialised feeders on gum.

Social

Marmosets live in family groups of 3 to 15, consisting of one to two breeding females, an unrelated male, their offspring and occasionally extended family members and unrelated individuals. Their mating systems are highly variable and can include monogamy, polygyny and occasionally polyandry. In most species, fraternal twins are usually born, but triplets are not unknown. Like other callitrichines, marmosets are characterized by a high degree of cooperative care of the young and some food sharing and tolerated theft. Adult males, females other than the mother, and older offspring participate in carrying infants. Most groups scent mark and defend the edges of their ranges, but it is unclear if they are truly territorial, as group home ranges greatly overlap.

Human cultural references

Callithrix comes from ancient Greek and means "beautiful fur." Marmoset is from the French marmouset, uncertain etymology.

The monkey is mentioned in Shakespeare's Tempest, when Caliban says he will instruct his new master Stephano "how to snare the nimble marmoset" [for eating], on the no-man island where the play takes place (Act 2, Scene 2).

Species list

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 129–133. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Rylands AB and Mittermeier RA (2009). "The Diversity of the New World Primates (Platyrrhini)". In Garber PA, Estrada A, Bicca-Marques JC, Heymann EW, Strier KB (ed.). South American Primates: Comparative Perspectives in the Study of Bahavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Springer. pp. 23–54. ISBN 978-0-387-78704-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  3. ^ Ross, C.N., French, J.A., and Ortí, G. (2007). "Germ-line chimerism and paternal care in marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii)". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 104: 6278. doi:10.1073/pnas.0607426104. PMID 17389380.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links