Species of monkeys. The smallest monkey in the world The smallest primates are lemurs or monkeys
Amazing little animal
Want to know about the record holder for the largest primate order? In each family there are individuals that are representatives of their genus, similar in external characteristics, but significantly different in size. There is such a creature among the monkeys. The popular name “finger monkey” best reflects its size; the official scientific name is Cebuella pygmaea or pygmy marmoset.
The smallest monkey in the world is the object of attention not only of biologists. Her wonderful expression and behavior arouses the interest of zoo visitors and animal lovers who are ready to tame the cute creature. What is known about this little animal: its homeland, nutrition, reproduction, dangers?
The main distinguishing feature is the size
A monkey is considered a dwarf because of its small stature and corresponding weight. Just imagine that the baby weighs several dozen times less than its relatives. With a body weight in the range of 100-150 g, less often up to 190 g, growth without taking into account the length of the tail does not exceed 15 cm. Why without the length of the tail? Because the continuation of the ridge is 1.5 times longer than the body, about 20-22 cm.
Habitats and living conditions
The northern part of Bolivia, Peru, eastern Ecuador, western Brazil, southern Colombia and the Upper Amazon are considered a comfortable habitat for miniature monkeys. They choose forests in river valleys, where there is a lot of lush, dense foliage.
They live and feed in trees. They lead a diurnal lifestyle. At night they climb into a hollow to hide and not become prey to birds of prey. Although even in the daytime it is dangerous for them to climb to the tops, so the little ones move from branch to branch without crossing the designated zone: below 5 m and above 18-20 m, they often have to hide under leaves from carnivores and tree snakes.
Nature has awarded these harmless four-armed animals with a camouflage color. The fur of the animal is predominantly brown. There are shades of gray, red, black with sparse greenish hairs. The fur on the belly is lighter and yellow in tone. But the color of the tail differs significantly from the usual specimens. It features black rings. In general, the color scheme is perfect for hiding in the treetops.
Pygmy monkeys are quite energetic. They spend a lot of time doing their favorite exciting pastime, like other primates, jumping from branch to branch. For the curious, there is an interesting fact about the ability of the marmoset, indicating that the small creature is capable of long jumping up to 5 m.
Diet of the pygmy marmoset
To feed the animals, it is enough to gnaw through the bark of a tree and wait for the juice to appear. The structure of their teeth allows them to cope with the task thanks to their long incisors. In addition to sap, the wood secretes resin from the holes it has eaten away. Kids eat this substance too. This is the main menu of mini monkeys.
They collect nectar from flowers, eat buds and fruits. They consider it a special treat for themselves and other insects. If you are lucky enough to get an egg of a small bird, then it also belongs to the food preferences of wonderful animals. They can satisfy their appetites within the confines of their usual surroundings. There are plenty of grasshoppers, flies, spiders, and ants in the treetops.
It is not averse to treating itself to frogs, lizards, and snails, but not every individual is ready for such a risky hunt. Considering their caution and timidity, it becomes clear why small primates do not like to go down to the ground and perform such bold acts extremely rarely.
Sociability and energy are manifested in lifestyle
Little monkeys are not supporters of isolated habitats. They are used to living in a pack. Small groups of 5-9 individuals are formed as a result of the reproduction of a couple of different-sex primates. The number of generations reaches 4 levels, so a family sometimes has up to 12 relatives. It is rare to see a second male in the pack. Basically, small families consist of a female and a male, as well as their joint offspring.
Once in captivity, pygmy marmosets miss their relatives and become depressed. They are capable of reproducing in unnatural conditions if the female and her boyfriend are in the same enclosure. It has been noted that the lifespan of monkeys in nature is no more than 10 years. Compliance with the norms and diet, favorable conditions created by man, extend the days of their existence by several years. As a result, tiny creatures live up to 16-18 years.
The male is assigned the main role, to protect and defend his intended territory, to take care of his favorite possessions right up to battle. Another responsibility of the head of the pack is to raise the cubs.
The appearance of offspring in the genus of marmosets occurs without any remarkable features. The female reaches puberty at the age of about two years. After mating, a little more than 4 months pass and twins or triplets are born. In some cases, one child survives. It does not look like its parents, but after a month the newborn creature acquires fluffy fur.
The young females of the family and the male take part in raising the baby. They carry it constantly on their back for up to 3 months until it becomes independent. At this time, the mother manages to rest and regain strength. Contacts the offspring during feeding. After 3 weeks, ready for new intimacy.
Cute creatures communicate with each other using sounds and signals, and are capable of transmitting various types of information.
Among the smallest monkeys there are record-breaking primates, considered the smallest monkeys on Earth. Let's find out what they are called, where they live, what kind of life they lead and whether they live in captivity.
The smallest monkey breeds
Among the many breeds of monkeys, the smallest ones can be distinguished. These are marmosets. They are among the smallest primates on our planet. Their habitat is Latin America. An adult weighs no more than one hundred grams with a body length of up to twenty-three centimeters. The length of the tail always exceeds the length of the body and can reach thirty centimeters. The smallest marmoset, smaller than a person's thumb, is the Swiss Lilliputian marmoset.The small ones include dwarf marmosets, whose average weight is about one hundred and twenty grams, and their body length does not exceed fifteen centimeters. These primates are considered the smallest on Earth. Their second name is pocket monkeys.
The narrow-nosed monkey is relatively small in size. Body size is largely determined by subspecies. So, the smallest among them are the talapoin pygmy monkeys. The body length of an adult is thirty-five centimeters. The tail is about the same length. The weight of the pygmy monkey is about one kilogram, three hundred grams. They live in the swampy forests of Gabon, are excellent swimmers and can see underwater.
Talapoins live in large groups of up to one hundred individuals, gathering in the evenings in trees near water. During the day, they scatter in search of food in small groups. Each large group contains several mature males and many females with offspring. These monkeys are omnivores. They eat fruits, small vertebrates, bird eggs, and aquatic plants. Sometimes they are kept at home. The talapoin should not be allowed to move freely around the apartment. He must live in a spacious and very strong cage. These monkeys love to break everything and see what's inside. Talapoins need to be walked.
Where do little monkeys live?
Small monkeys, like larger representatives of primates, mainly live in the subtropics and tropics. There are many of them in South and Central America, Africa, and the southern parts of Asia. It is there that they can feed themselves freely. It is not uncommon for monkeys to remain in the jungle for a year. 
Thus, marmosets live mainly in the upper reaches of the Amazon. They can also be found on the borders of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. They live in the jungle, practically never coming down from the trees. Marmosets live in Latin America. They were first discovered in Western Brazil in 1823. The habitat of the Talapoins is the forests of Gabon.
Pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world
There is a palm-sized monkey - a pygmy marmoset. In size it can be compared to a small kitten. The animal is very agile. Marmosets move through the jungle, jumping from branch to branch. The primate's body, excluding the tail, is from ten to fifteen centimeters. The tail itself often exceeds the length of the entire body. An individual can weigh from one hundred to one hundred and fifty grams. The animal has thick, long fur, brown on top, white or yellow below. They live in western Brazil, the upper Amazon, Ecuador and northern Peru. 
Marmosets usually live in the jungle, spending almost their entire lives in trees; at night they are in hollows. The animal's legs are so well developed that they can jump up to two meters. Thanks to their sharp claws, marmosets can move along vertical branches.
Monkeys obtain food using sharp incisor teeth. Their main delicacy is tree sap. To get it, monkeys gnaw through tree bark. They also indulge in fruits and eat spiders, insects and small birds. They are content with fresh water, which they find in flowers and on the leaves and shoots of plants. Due to their miniature size and low weight, these animals are able to obtain food from thin branches where larger and heavier jungle inhabitants cannot reach.
Pygmy monkeys live in groups with a male, female and offspring. Often there are four generations in a group at once. Usually the female gives birth to two cubs, each weighing about fifteen grams. It seems that the marmosets are chirping something to each other non-stop. These are sociable animals. From time to time they whistle, and if they want to report danger, they start screaming loudly. It is impossible to calculate the total number of these dwarf primates in nature, which is due to both their mobility and camouflage coloring. It is definitely true that they are not on the verge of extinction. It is known that their average life expectancy is ten years.
We can say that the marmoset is like a cat, a bird and a person at the same time. These monkeys are also kept in captivity. It is important to provide them with a constant temperature within twenty-five to twenty-nine degrees with a humidity of more than sixty percent. They are placed in an enclosure with decorative elements and shelters.
By the way, monkeys are considered dangerous. They are even included in the list of the most dangerous animals in the world..
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Monkeys are considered primates. In addition to the usual ones, there are, for example, semi-monkeys. These include lemurs, tupayas, and short-heeled lemurs. Among ordinary monkeys, they resemble tarsiers. They separated in the Middle Eocene.
This is one of the eras of the Paleogene period, which began 56 million years ago. Two more orders of monkeys emerged in the late Eocene, about 33 million years ago. We are talking about narrow- and broad-nosed primates.
Tarsier monkeys
Tarsiers - species of small monkeys. They are common in southeast Asia. Primates of the genus have short forepaws, and the heel region on all limbs is elongated. In addition, the tarsier's brain is devoid of convolutions. In other monkeys they are developed.
Sirichta
Lives in the Philippines, is the smallest of the monkeys. The length of the animal does not exceed 16 centimeters. The primate weighs 160 grams. With these sizes, the Philippine tarsier has huge eyes. They are round, convex, yellow-green and glow in the dark.
Philippine tarsiers are brown or grayish. The fur of the animals is soft, like silk. Tarsiers take care of their fur coat by combing it with the claws of their second and third toes. Other claws are deprived.
Bankan tarsier
Lives in the south of the island of Sumatra. The bank tarsier is also found in Borneo, in the rain forests of Indonesia. The animal also has large and round eyes. Their irises are brownish. The diameter of each eye is 1.6 centimeters. If you weigh the visual organs of a Bankan tarsier, their mass will exceed the weight of the monkey's brain.
The Bankan tarsier has larger and more rounded ears than the Philippine tarsier. They are hairless. The rest of the body is covered with golden brown hairs.
Tarsier ghost
Included in rare species of monkeys, lives on the islands of Greater Sangihi and Sulawesi. In addition to the ears, the primate has a bare tail. It is covered with scales, like a rat's. There is a woolen brush at the end of the tail.
Like other tarsiers, the ghost acquired long and thin fingers. With them the primate clasps the branches of trees, where it spends most of its life. Among the foliage, monkeys look for insects and lizards. Some tarsiers even attack birds.
Broad-nosed monkeys
As the name suggests, the monkeys of the group have a wide nasal septum. Another difference is 36 teeth. Other monkeys have at least 4 fewer of them.
Broad-nosed monkeys are divided into 3 subfamilies. These are capuchinoides, callimicos and clawedes. The latter have a second name - marmosets.
Capuchin monkeys
Otherwise called cebids. All monkeys of the family live in the New World and have a prehensile tail. It seems to replace the fifth limb for primates. Therefore, the animals of the group are also called tenacious-tailed.
Crybaby
It lives in the north of South Africa, in particular in Brazil, Rio Negro and Guiana. Crybaby enters monkey species, listed in the International Red. The name of primates is associated with the drawn-out sounds they make.
As for the name of the clan, Western European monks who wore hoods were called Capuchins. The Italians called the cassock with it “capucio”. Seeing monkeys with light faces and a dark “hood” in the New World, Europeans remembered the monks.
Crybaby is a small monkey up to 39 centimeters long. The animal's tail is 10 centimeters longer. The maximum weight of a primate is 4.5 kilograms. Females are rarely larger than 3 kilos. Females also have shorter fangs.
Favi
Otherwise called brown. Primates of the species inhabit the mountainous regions of South America, in particular the Andes. Mustard-brown, brown or black individuals are found in different areas.
The body length of the favi does not exceed 35 centimeters, the tail is almost 2 times longer. Males are larger than females, gaining almost 5 kilograms of mass. Occasionally there are individuals weighing 6.8 kilos.
White-breasted Capuchin
The second name is common capuchin. Like the previous ones, it lives on the lands of South America. The white patch on the primate's chest extends to the shoulders. The muzzle, as befits capuchins, is also light. The “hood” and “mantle” are brown-black.
The white-breasted capuchin's "hood" rarely extends over the monkey's forehead. The degree to which the dark fur is raised depends on the sex and age of the primate. Typically, the older the capuchin, the higher his hood is raised. Females “raise” it while still young.
Saki monk
In other capuchins, the length of the coat is uniform throughout the body. The Saki monk has longer hairs on his shoulders and head. Looking at the primates themselves and their photo, species of monkeys you begin to distinguish. Thus, the saki’s “hood” hangs over the forehead and covers the ears. The fur on the capuchin's face hardly contrasts in color with the headdress.
The Saki monk gives the impression of a melancholic animal. This is due to the downturned corners of the monkey's mouth. She looks sad and thoughtful.
There are 8 species of capuchins in total. In the New World, these are the smartest and most easily trained primates. They often feed on tropical fruits, occasionally chewing rhizomes, branches, and catching insects.
Marmoset monkeys
Monkeys of the family are miniature and have claw-shaped nails. The structure of the feet is close to that of tarsiers. Therefore, species of the genus are considered transitional. Marmosets belong to the higher primates, but among them they are the most primitive.
Wistity
The second name is ordinary. The length of the animal does not exceed 35 centimeters. Females are about 10 centimeters smaller. Upon reaching maturity, primates acquire long tufts of fur near their ears. The decoration is white, the center of the muzzle is brown, and its perimeter is black.
Marmosets have elongated claws on their big toes. Primates use them to grab branches, jumping from one to another.
Pygmy marmoset
It does not exceed 15 centimeters in length. A plus is the 20-centimeter tail. The primate weighs 100-150 grams. Externally, the marmoset appears larger because it is covered with long and thick fur of a brown-golden color. The red hue and mane of hair make the monkey look like a pocket lion. This is an alternative name for the primate.
The pygmy marmoset is found in the tropics of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. With sharp incisors, primates gnaw the bark of trees, releasing their juices. This is what the monkeys eat.
Black tamarin
It does not descend below 900 meters above sea level. In mountain forests, black tamarins have a twin in 78% of cases. This is how monkeys are born. Fraternal children are born only in 22% of cases.
From the name of the primate it is clear that it is dark. The length of the monkey does not exceed 23 centimeters, and weighs about 400 grams.
Crested tamarin
Otherwise called pinche monkey. On the head of the primate there is an erokeus-like crest of white, long hair. It grows from the forehead to the neck. During times of unrest, the crest stands on end. In a good-natured mood, the tamarin is smoothed.
The crested tamarin's muzzle is bare right down to the area behind the ears. The rest of the 20cm long primate is covered in long hair. It is white on the chest and front legs. The fur on the back, sides, hind legs and tail is reddish-brown.
Piebald tamarin
A rare species, lives in the tropics of Jurasia. Outwardly, the piebald tamarin is similar to the crested tamarin, but does not have the same crest. The animal has a completely bare head. The ears appear large against this background. The angular, square shape of the head is also emphasized.
Behind it, on the chest and front legs, there is long white hair. The tamarin's back, legs, hind legs and tail are reddish-brown.
The piebald tamarin is slightly larger than the crested tamarin, weighs about half a kilogram, and reaches a length of 28 centimeters.
All marmosets live 10-15 years. Their size and peaceful disposition make it possible to keep representatives of the genus at home.
Callimico monkeys
They were recently allocated to a separate family; previously they were classified as marmosets. DNA tests showed that Callimiko is a transitional link. There is a lot from the capuchins. The genus is represented by a single species.
Marmoset
Included in the little-known, rare species of monkeys. Their names and features are only rarely described in popular science articles. The structure of the teeth and, in general, the skull of the marmoset is similar to that of the capuchin. The face looks like a tamarin's face. The structure of the paws is also marmoset.
The marmoset has thick, dark fur. On the head it is elongated, forming something like a cap. Seeing her in captivity is good luck. Marmosets die outside their natural environment and do not produce offspring. As a rule, out of 20 individuals in the best zoos in the world, 5-7 survive. At home, marmosets live even less often.
Narrow-nosed monkeys
Among the narrow-nosed there are monkey species of india, Africa, Vietnam, Thailand. Representatives of the genus do not live. Therefore, narrow-nosed primates are commonly called Old World monkeys. These include 7 families.
Monkeys
The family includes small and medium-sized primates, with forelimbs and hindlimbs of approximately equal length. The first fingers of the hands and feet of apes are opposed to the remaining fingers, like those of humans.
Representatives of the family also have ischial calluses. These are hairless, worn-out areas of skin under the tail. The faces of the ape-like creatures are also bare. The rest of the body is covered with fur.
Hussar
Lives south of the Sahara. This is the limit of the monkeys' range. On the eastern borders of the Hussars' dry, grassy territories, their noses are white. Western representatives of the species have black noses. Hence the division of hussars into 2 subspecies. Both are included in species of red monkeys, because they are colored orange-scarlet.
Hussars have a slender, long-legged body. The muzzle is also elongated. When the monkey grins, powerful, sharp fangs are visible. The long tail of a primate is equal to the length of its body. The weight of the animal reaches 12.5 kilograms.
Green monkey
Representatives of the species are common in the west. From there, monkeys were brought to the West Indies and the Caribbean islands. Here the primates blend in with the greenery of the tropical forests, with coats that have a swampy tint. It is distinct on the back, crown, and tail.
Like other monkeys, green monkeys have cheek pouches. They resemble those of hamsters. Macaques carry food supplies in their cheek pouches.
Cynomolgus macaque
Otherwise called a crabeater. The name is associated with the macaque's favorite food. His fur, like that of the green monkey, has a grassy tint. Expressive brown eyes stand out against this background.
The length of the Javan macaque reaches 65 centimeters. The monkey weighs about 4 kilograms. Females of the species are approximately 20% smaller than males.
Japanese macaque
Lives on the island of Yakushima. There is a harsh climate, but there are hot and thermal springs. The snow melts next to them and primates live. They bask in hot waters. The leaders of the packs have the first right to them. The lower “links” of the hierarchy are freezing on the shore.
Among the Japanese, the largest is the others. However, impressions are deceiving. If you cut off the thick, long, steel-gray fur, the primate will be of medium size.
Reproduction of all monkeys is associated with sexual skin. It is located in the area of the ischial callus and swells and turns red during ovulation. For males, this is a signal to mate.
Gibbons
They are distinguished by elongated forelimbs, bare palms, feet, ears and face. On the other body, the fur, on the contrary, is thick and long. Like macaques, there are ischial calluses, but less pronounced. But gibbons do not have a tail.
Silver gibbon
It is endemic to the island of Java and is not found outside its borders. The animal is named after the color of its fur. She is grey-silver. The bare skin on the face, arms and feet is black.
Silver is medium in size, does not exceed 64 centimeters in length. Females often stretch only 45. The weight of the primate is 5-8 kilograms.
Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon
You cannot tell from the females of the species that they are yellow-cheeked. More precisely, females are completely orange. On black males, golden cheeks are striking. It is interesting that representatives of the species are born light, then darken together. But during puberty, females return to basics, so to speak.
Yellow-cheeked crested gibbons live in the lands of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Primates live there in families. This is a feature of all gibbons. They form monogamous couples and live together with children.
Eastern hoolock
The middle name is the singing monkey. It lives in India, China, and Bangladesh. The males of the species have stripes of white fur above their eyes. On a black background they look like gray eyebrows.
The average weight of a monkey is 8 kilograms. The primate reaches 80 centimeters in length. There is also a Western hoolock. He has no eyebrows and is a little larger, weighing about 9 kilos.
Siamang compound-toed
IN great monkey species not included, but is the largest among gibbons, gaining 13 kilograms of mass. The primate is covered with long, shaggy black hair. It fades to gray near the monkey's mouth and chin.
There is a throat pouch on the siamang's neck. With its help, primates of the species amplify sound. Gibbons have a habit of calling each other between families. This is why monkeys develop their voice.
Pygmy gibbon
It cannot be heavier than 6 kilograms. Males and females are similar in size and color. At all ages, monkeys of the species are black.
Once on the ground, dwarf gibbons move with their arms behind their backs. Otherwise, long limbs drag along the ground. Sometimes primates raise their arms up, using them as balancers.
All gibbons move through trees by alternating their forelimbs. The manner is called brachiation.
Orangutans
Always massive. Male orangutans are larger than females, with hooked fingers, fatty growths on the cheeks, and a small guttural pouch, like gibbons.
Sumatran orangutan
Belongs to the red monkeys, has a fiery coat color. Representatives of the species are found on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Sumatran is included in species of apes. In the language of the inhabitants of the island of Sumatra, the primate’s name means “forest man.” Therefore, it is incorrect to write "orangutaeng". The letter "b" at the end changes the meaning of the word. In the Sumatran language, this is already a “debtor”, and not a forest person.
Bornean orangutan
It can weigh up to 180 kilos with a maximum height of 140 centimeters. Monkeys of the species are like sumo wrestlers, covered with fat. The Bornean orangutan also owes its large weight to its short legs against the backdrop of its large body. The monkey's lower limbs, by the way, are crooked.
The arms of the Bornean orangutan, as well as others, hang below the knees. But the fat cheeks of representatives of the species are especially fleshy, significantly expanding the face.
Kalimantan orangutan
It is endemic to Kalimantan. The monkey is slightly taller than the Bornean orangutan, but weighs 2 times less. The fur of primates is brownish-red. Bornean individuals have a distinctly fiery fur coat.
Among monkeys, orangutans of Kalimantan are long-lived. The age of some ends in the 7th decade.
All orangutans have a concave skull at the front. The general outlines of the head are elongated. All orangutans also have a powerful lower jaw and large teeth. The chewing surface is clearly raised, as if wrinkled.
Gorillas
Like orangutans, they are hominids. Previously, scientists used this name only for humans and their ape-like ancestors. However, gorillas, orangutans and also chimpanzees have a common ancestor with humans. Therefore, the classification was revised.
Coast gorilla
Lives in equatorial Africa. The primate is approximately 170 centimeters tall and weighs up to 170 kilograms, but often around 100.
Males of the species have a silver stripe running down their back. Females are completely black. Representatives of both sexes have a characteristic red marking on the forehead.
Lowland gorilla
Found in Cameroon, Central African Republic and Congo. There the lowland one settles in mangroves. They are dying out. Along with them, the gorilla species is disappearing.
The dimensions of the lowland gorilla are comparable to those of the coastal gorilla. But the color of the coat is different. Lowland individuals have brown-gray fur.
Mountain gorilla
The rarest, listed in the International Red Book. There are less than 200 individuals left. Living in remote mountainous areas, the species was discovered at the beginning of the last century.
Unlike other gorillas, the mountain gorillas have a narrower skull and thick and long hair. The forelimbs of the monkey are much shorter than the hind limbs.
Chimpanzee
All live in Africa, in the Niger and Congo river basins. Monkeys of the family are not taller than 150 centimeters and weigh no more than 50 kilograms. In addition, in chipanzees, males and females differ little; there is no occipital carina, and the supraorbital carina is less developed.
Bonobos
Considered the smartest monkey in the world. In terms of brain activity and DNA, bonobos are 99.4% close to humans. Working with chimpanzees, scientists taught some individuals to recognize 3 thousand words. Five hundred of them were used by primates in oral speech.
Height does not exceed 115 centimeters. The standard weight of a chimpanzee is 35 kilograms. The wool is dyed black. The skin is also dark, but the bonobo's lips are pink.
common chimpanzee
Finding out how many species of monkeys belong to chimpanzees, you recognize only 2. In addition to bonobos, the common one belongs to the family. He's bigger. Individual individuals weigh 80 kilograms. Maximum height is 160 centimeters.
There are white hairs on the coccyx and near the mouth of the common one. The rest of the fur is brown-black. White hairs fall out during puberty. Before this, older primates consider children to be marked and treat them condescendingly.
Compared to gorillas and orangutans, all chimpanzees have a straighter forehead. At the same time, the brain part of the skull is larger. Like other hominids, primates walk only on their feet. Accordingly, the chimpanzee's body position is vertical.
The big toes are no longer opposed to the others. The length of the leg exceeds the length of the palm.
So we figured it out, what types of monkeys are there. Although they are related to humans, the latter are not averse to feasting on their younger brothers. Many aboriginal peoples eat monkeys. The meat of prosimians is considered especially tasty. Animal skins are also used to make bags, clothes, and belts.
“People don't understand monkeys. This is a clash of generations."
(Ninus Nesterovich)“The proverbial missing link between the ape and civilized man is us.”
(Konrad Lorenz)“If monkeys could speak, they would probably argue that people are just degenerate monkeys, that humanity is a corrupted race of monkeys.”
(Heinrich Heine)
In my last story I wrote about my cat-monkey Devon Rex and, by the way, I remembered that we are now living in the year of the monkey. The inevitably approaching school year brought to mind a professional joke:
And now, children, I will tell you about monkeys. And there’s no point in staring out the windows - you won’t see them there! Everyone look at me!!!
And I decided to dedicate my next story to the cutest and smallest of them - the marmoset, whom I adore all my life.
I had the good fortune to see marmosets alive when I was visiting my cousin in Sweden. We walked through the beautiful zoo in Stockholm. Despite the relatively cool northern summer and the fresh wind from the Baltic, life was paradise, since the rare sun was shining and in front of me a peacock had just unfurled its gorgeous tail, walking freely along the path and proudly showing off itself to tourists.
And then I turned my head to the right and forgot about real life, because in front of me there was a glass enclosure with MARMOZETS!!! There were five of them - two tiny parents and three nano-children. To say that it was a delight to watch them would not convey anything.
Unfortunately, my camera was broken at that time, and I will have to illustrate my story with photographic materials selected from the Internet (the rights to them belong to their lucky authors, whom I sincerely envy).
These were unreal creatures, similar in their faces, movements and antics to some kind gnomes. Whatever they did caused uncontrollable hysterical laughter from all the spectators.
The marmoset mother tried all the time to carefully, but unsuccessfully, look after her children, but they enjoyed life so vigorously and quickly scurried around the cage, flying from branch to branch, pulling each other’s tails, falling and tumbling, that the parent’s face was frozen in surprise. - a doomed expression, and she kept turning to the tourists, looking for sympathy. And all this cheerful sodomy was so reminiscent of human problems that the audience, speaking simultaneously in Swedish, English, German, French and Russian, understood each other completely. And I remembered a joke about our relationship:
A girl asks her mother:
- Is it true that all people descended from monkeys?
- Is it true.
- Everything - everything? And even me?!!
- Yes, but you are from a very pretty one.
Marmoset dad tried to maintain a semblance of common sense and calm. A couple of times he even very cleverly caught his offspring for something that lay closer, and lightly hit them for educational purposes. But the cubs only made hilarious faces at him, which completely drove the tourists crazy. Then the head of the family went to gently touch the mother’s fur, comforting and calming her down. Then he got distracted and managed to stick his long curly tail into a bowl of water, but did not lose his head, but began to comb it with his paws and lick it enthusiastically. At this point we were all just howling and couldn’t breathe from laughing...
Suddenly, a little marmo cub crawled sideways along a branch right up to the front glass, looked at me with a grin and put his tiny palm to the glass, as if playing clap. I, too, pressed my palm against the glass, feeling like I was one blood with him, like a happily freaked out Mowgli.
And suddenly everything broke... My little cousin Max screamed in a bad voice that he was tired of the stupid monkeys and was leaving to eat a juicy hamburger. Terribly upset and disappointed, I thought: “Damn, Max, fuck you! You're lucky! You live here and you can come and look at this miracle every day - and you don’t care, but you need this stinking hamburger! But I will never have such happiness again, give me at least five more minutes!” But the little half-Swede was firm and unforgiving, and it was incorrect to contradict the hostess, and I sadly trudged after them.
And I no longer saw the beautiful old Gothic buildings in Gamla Stan, nor the picturesque yachts rocking on the waves along the promenade of the pier, nor the well-groomed suburban cottages with amazingly beautiful gardens - those marmosets danced before my eyes all the time. I tried to cheer myself up with jokes on the topic:
Believers believe that they descended from Adam and Eve. Atheists believe that they descended from monkeys. But agnostics don’t care, because they see that the result is the same.
Soon I returned from sunny, windy, calm and beautiful Sweden to rainy and September Moscow and went to the Bird Market to buy a large beautiful shell for my sister as a gift.
Here I am forced to make a completely unlyrical, but necessary digression.
WARNING: PEOPLE!!! Be carefull!!! NEVER BUY KITTENS AND PUPPIES AT A POULTRY MARKET - THEY ARE ALL SICK OR INFECTIOUS!!!
I foolishly went through this myself, having bought a kitten there that was sick for life with a very dangerous virus. My student begged her mother for a dog, went to buy herself the happiness of her life - she bought a sad taxi driver, who died three days later in agony from bloody enteritis. Our neighbors even managed to adopt a Golden Retriever puppy there and then sobbingly put him to sleep due to inoperable hip dysplasia. When people before my eyes told veterinarians that they bought their little animal with a bunch of problems on Ptichka, the doctors just rolled their eyes and said: “WELL, HOW COULD YOU!!!”
So, what am I talking about?! I’m running along the meowing-yelping-chirping row on the Birdie for a shell, and suddenly I see an unusual advertisement: “I sell lemurs and marmosets.”
I just went cold, imagining what awaits these most delicate and capricious exotic animals if they end up not in the hands of professional experienced zoologists at the zoo, but in the apartments of ignorant amateurs who most often want to buy themselves a beautiful, cool living toy so that the interior can be decorated in front of them. showing off friends.
And again on topic:
Vovochka asks her mother:
- Mom, buy me a monkey! Oh please!..
- Vovochka, are you crazy? And what are you going to feed her?
- Mom, buy me a monkey from the zoo. There is a sign hanging there: “It is prohibited to feed the monkeys!”
All this hurt and upset me terribly, and I decided to sit down with literature and learn more about these unique monkeys - marmosets. And then write a story so that people understand what fragile creatures they are and how much knowledge, free time, kindness and money they need to have in order to create decent conditions for them when maintaining a home. Not everyone can do this, and torturing children for fun and self-affirmation is cruel and disgusting.
Marmosets or marmosets, like Aunt Charlie in the famous comedy (“Hello, I’m your aunt!”), live in Brazil, “where there are a lot of wild monkeys in the forests.”
Marmosets are one of the smallest primates on the planet, a genus of broad-nosed monkeys. Sometimes marmosets are classified as marmoset monkeys (there are more than 35 species), and sometimes they are classified as an independent family of marmoset monkeys.
Marmosets are very close to the family of tamarins (there are 22 species), from which they differ only in their lower fangs.
Even the largest representatives of this genus do not exceed 30 cm and weigh 400 grams, and very miniature dwarf marmosets, for example, the Swiss lilliputian marmoset, do not exceed the length of an adult’s thumb (their length on average is no more than 15 cm and their weight reaches only 120 grams) .
The three species of marmosets themselves (silver, golden and black-eared) differ markedly in their appearance and color. Although they have common features - meaningful, expressive faces with an oriental eye shape and hilarious moving facial expressions, the body is no larger than a squirrel, covered with silky fur and with a long curled tail that exceeds the length of the body.
These monkeys live not only in Brazil, but also inhabit tropical and subtropical rainforests of the Amazon basin - in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Marmosets and marmosets live in the lower and middle crowns of tall trees and come down to the ground quite rarely, not feeling safe there.
They live in family groups of 3 to 30 individuals and are diurnal animals, climbing into hollows or nests to sleep at night.
These tiny monkeys are very shy and cautious, they are on the move almost all the time, very deftly climbing trees with the help of their strong and flexible paws and tenacious claws. They are also excellent acrobats and can jump up to 4 meters. It is interesting that, unlike other monkeys, they practically do not use their long tails and run around on all fours. Moreover, despite their tiny size, these tramps can cover up to 2 kilometers a day.
When communicating with each other, the monkeys quickly chirp, chirp and whistle in thin voices like birds, and in case of danger, they warn the members of the flock with sharp and loud cries. Zoologists count more than 10 signals that these primates can exchange, expressing different shades of joy and sympathy for their fellow tribesmen and irritation towards strangers who have invaded their territory.
Marmosets and marmosets are insectivores and herbivores. They feed on tropical fruits, small vertebrates, lizards and insects: from large butterflies to beetles and cockroaches. They also love to drink sweet tree sap, deftly cutting the bark of trees with extremely sharp incisors. In addition, they drink rainwater accumulated in the leaves of plants.
These primates are typical social animals, living in large families and raising their young as a group. Not only children, but also wives are common in a monkey troop.
After the mating period, females carry their young for approximately 155 days. Marmosets give birth twice a year, usually in pairs of babies. The father devotes a lot of effort to raising and protecting his offspring. Often he carries babies on his back, giving them to the mother for feeding. Up to 4 months, the mother feeds the babies with milk, and other members of the pack actively help her in raising the cubs: they carry them on their backs, comb their fur, monitor their behavior and teach them correct life skills and behavior in a group.
Kids can be extremely mischievous, active and noisy.
At the age of 1.5 - 2 years, young monkeys become sexually mature.
In nature, these small monkeys live up to 15–18 years, and in captivity they can live several years longer with the right content.
According to real experts, keeping fragile and whimsical marmosets and marmosets in captivity is not at all easy.
They need a large cage with strong branches for climbing and heat lamps in case the temperature drops (they need at least 29-30 degrees). It is simply impossible to keep them unattended in an apartment or house, since, due to their mobility and curiosity, they gnaw, crush and tear everything in their path. If they are not kept in pairs or in a flock, they require a lot of attention, love and various games from their owners, otherwise they become sad and become depressed and irritable.
Their diet should be very properly balanced and include vegetables, fruits, boiled meat and fish, nuts, juice and even live insects. They also need a lot of different and safe children's toys, to which, however, they quickly lose interest and require new entertainment. During the mating season, monkeys become aggressive and can bite. They require constant, qualified and expensive veterinary supervision and treatment.
When properly maintained, marmosets become very attached to all family members and are everyone's favorites, despite all the difficulties and problems.
In the jungle there lives a small and fluffy animal, the size of a kitten, - all day long this creature with large Mongoloid eyes jumps from branch to branch. This is the smallest monkey in the world - the pygmy marmoset.
An adult individual barely reaches fifteen centimeters in length, not counting the tail - it reaches about twenty centimeters in length. This baby weighs no more than one hundred and ninety grams, on average 124 grams. It was first discovered at the beginning of the nineteenth century in South America - its habitat was the Amazon, western Brazil, and northern Peru and Ecuador.
They can be found in the jungle - they do not live in trees over eighteen meters, on the edges of the forest. Sensing danger, this small creature with a very meaningful look hides in the foliage. The main part of the pygmy marmoset's life is spent in trees. Such a pastime does not make it difficult for monkeys at all - they are well developed and easily jump from branch to branch - they can easily jump over distances of up to two meters.
General characteristics
The smallest monkey has a beautiful coat - its fur is soft and dense. The color is brown, red-tinged and interspersed with yellowish-green hairs. Due to the fact that the hair on the head is longer than on the rest of the body, a mane effect is created. This is where the resemblance to the king of beasts ends. The tufts of this hair are usually dark in color. The general coloration of the monkey contributes to a comfortable life in the treetops - it has excellent camouflage. The hind legs are longer than the front ones, the miniature toes of the monkey are crowned with sharp claws, only the big toes have a flat nail. The monkey's tail does not have a grasping reflex.
Basically, monkeys have three molars, marmosets have only two. They have long incisors with which they gnaw through the wood of trees. The size of the skull is small, but the brain in it is relatively large. They lead a diurnal lifestyle and climb into a hollow at night.
Diet
Monkeys feed on tree sap - having made a hole in the tree with their teeth, marmosets feast on the nectar seeping through the hole. Butterflies flock to the released juice and immediately become the prey of a small predator. They can feast on grasshoppers - this is their favorite delicacy, for which they are even capable of taking risks - coming down from the tree. They do this extremely rarely and reluctantly. They will not fail to treat themselves to a spider or a frog. From time to time, lizards, snails and other insects are sent into the mouth.
These little ones drink a lot of water; in order to find it, they have to examine flowers and shoots. In zoos, monkeys are fed canned food and mealy beetle larvae. They can treat you to grapes, apples, and bananas. Sometimes employees add boiled eggs and meat to the babies’ diet. But still, the monkeys are uncomfortable in captivity - they do not tolerate unnecessary fuss, although they themselves are very active and sociable.
The small size of the body makes the pygmy marmoset an excellent prey - they face danger in the form of predators - animals and tree snakes. The main eaters of pygmy monkeys are birds of prey. Having noticed the danger in time, the marmosets gather in a group and try to attack the predator, sometimes they manage to lead the enemy to flight. Otherwise, they hide until the threat passes. In nature, it is rare for any individual to live up to 10 years, in captivity - up to 18.
Lifestyle and reproduction
Monkeys live in groups of up to 12 individuals, and these are all members of the same family - a male, a female and their young. Moreover, males and females have no other external differences except their genitals. Up to four generations can live in a flock. They fight fiercely for their own territory; their small stature is not a hindrance to them. If anyone dares to encroach on the marked territory, he risks not only being scolded, but also getting a couple of slaps from the leader of the pack.
The boundaries of the chosen area are marked with a special secret. When there are two males in such a group at the same time, one dominates and limits his access to the female. To express his affection, the male pygmy marmoset shows his genitals to the lady of his heart.
The female's pregnancy lasts about 4.5 months, usually twins are born. In rare cases, triplets appear. No matter how many there are, only one survives. Newborn babies are naked, blind, and weigh only 16 grams. In the first days after birth, pygmy marmosets are helpless; for the first three weeks they require constant care. For the first day, the babies hang on their mother, and then move onto the back of their father or other females, and they teach them the wisdom of life, returning to their mother when it is time to feed and for the procedures necessary for the monkeys. In this way, the young mother can recover and relax, and the young ones get the opportunity to become acquainted with motherhood skills.
Twenty days after giving birth, the female is again ready to mate. One female dominates the group; her body secretes a special hormone that suppresses ovulation in other females. Scientists still do not know the exact answer - whether the female mates with several partners or whether monogamy is inherent in monkeys. It is possible that in monkeys, like in humans, everything is strictly individual.
After three months, the grown-up babies become independent. At the age of one to one and a half years they reach sexual maturity, but they can take part in reproduction at the age of two years.
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