World's Smallest Monkey

The pygmy marmoset is a petite monkey that is native to rainforests of the western Amazon Basin in South America. About just 100 grams, the pygmy marmoset is well-known to be the smallest species of monkey in the world. Pygmy marmoset is averages about 15cm in height with a 20cm long tail behind it. The tiny pygmy marmoset has sharp claws which make the pygmy marmoset superb at climbing trees and the long tail of the pygmy marmoset gives this little monkey unbelievable balance when jumping between tree branches.

The low weight of the pygmy marmoset permits to get to the canopy tree tops, a place where a lot of larger species of monkey cannot reach. They are also having ability to turn their heads 180 degrees, an adaptation which permits them to scan the environment for predators while vertically clinging to a tree. Pygmy marmoset lives on on a specialized diet of tree gum. It gnaws holes in the bark of suitable trees and vines with its specialized dentition to elicit the production of gum. When the sap puddles up in the hole, it laps it up with its tongue. It also lies in wait for insects, particularly butterflies, which are fascinated to the sap holes. It supplements its diet with berries, nectar and fruit.

The pygmy marmoset has been progressively more well-liked as an exotic pet, but they are extremely hard to keep. Therefore; when a baby pygmy marmoset is taken away from his family it can commonly die quickly due to depression. Baby pygmy marmosets also require feeding every two hours for their first two weeks in the world so they can be very time-consuming pets. Pet pygmy marmosets can take a grave dislike towards their owners and some have been known to bite their owners and throw feces at them, as a form of attack.