The common marmoset, which is also called the white-eared marmoset or wistiti, is an inhabitant of Brazil. In choosing where to live, they are very unpretentious. They are suitable for both forests located in the savannah, and coastal, and forests remote from the sea. Primates are very emotional and vividly express their feelings. For them, different types of communication behavior are of particular importance.
Description
The common marmoset, the photo of which is in the article, is small in size. Its weight is 260-320 grams. The body is 18 to 25 cm long, and the tail is about 30 cm. Males are slightly larger than females. The head is rounded, on the forehead there is a rhombus of white color. Round eyes are quite expressive. Near the ears are white long tufts of hair resembling tassels. Black tail with gray and black rings. The coat is grey-black with reddish patches, long and soft to the touch.
On the thumb of the hind limb is a claw-like nail,helping to dexterously move through the trees. In addition, they have sharp incisors, thanks to which they are able to make holes in tree trunks. When moving, they use four limbs, often jumping from one tree to another.
Behaviour. Lifestyle
Marmosets live in flocks (groups), in which there are up to 15 individuals, occupying an area from 0.7 to 6 hectares. They communicate with each other by facial expressions, chirping sounds, as well as the position of the body. The younger generation is surrounded by special care and love. The pack has a very interesting hierarchy:
- The leader or adult male dominates only over sexually mature males. He does not notice the young and adult females.
- Alpha female behaves similarly.
They mark their territory with a secret secreted from special glands. After the onset of puberty in the young, the parents, i.e. the leader and the alpha female, expel them from the pack.
With its habits, the common marmoset (white-eared) resembles a squirrel. Primates are calm, do not show aggression. They are shy by nature. However, if the marmosets are too frightened, then their squealing can be heard very far away. The leader is able to take on a frightening appearance not only before the appearance of the enemy, but also to assert his power. In a calm environment, their chirping is barely audible, and the sounds are somewhat similar to the chirping of birds. They are active from early morning until dusk. They wake up thirty minutes after the appearance of the sun's rays, and go to bed thirty minutes before their sunset. Sleep inhollow trees or thicker vines.
The common marmoset's favorite pastime is taking care of its coat. This process, as well as the search for food, they devote half a day. Other times they just bask in the sun. Monkeys, stretched out, are able to stay motionless for about thirty minutes. Under natural conditions, primates have many enemies, including owls, tree snakes.
Reproduction. Baby development
Females at the age of two years choose their partner, which can be several. Pregnancy lasts an average of 145 days, often two cubs are born. In rare cases, three. The female is able to give birth twice a year.
Caring for babies is considered the duty of the pack, so one newborn has up to five nannies. The upbringing is mainly done by the male, and the female feeds the offspring and restores her strength. The weight of a newborn is about 25 grams. Two weeks after the birth of marmosets, ordinary marmosets hang on their mother's stomach, then they move to their father's back, and all members of the flock begin to wear them. When they are a month old, they begin to molt, and they are covered with hair, like an adult primate. By the third month, the cubs begin to walk independently. Breastfeeding stops at six months, and puberty begins at twelve, which lasts up to two years. By eighteen months, the offspring become completely independent. During this period, they should leave the pack and start their own family.
Food
In the wild, the common marmoset huntssustenance with incisor teeth. They go in search of food in small groups. The diet is very diverse, they prefer:
- insects and their larvae;
- chicks;
- small rodents;
- frogs;
- berries;
- fruit;
- gum;
- resin;
- tree sap.
As soon as the secretion of juice begins, the monkey begins to lick it. On this process, she spends a fairly large part of her time allotted for the search for food.
Fresh water is collected on the shoots, flowers or leaves of plants. Light weight makes it easy to overcome obstacles in the form of thin branches to reach the fruit.
Eat at home:
- chicken meat;
- insects;
- snails;
- dairy products - cottage cheese and milk;
- boiled eggs.
Adaptation to a new type of food is easy and fast.
Distribution
The marmoset originally lived in the Brazilian northeastern regions. Under natural conditions perfectly exist:
- in humid forests;
- in the tropics with sparse and deciduous vegetation;
- on the Atlantic coast;
- in city parks;
- on farm plantations.
At home, these primates have been kept since the sixties of the twentieth century in states such as Santa Catarina, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro. Animals quickly adapt to life in captivity andbecome strongly attached to their master.
There are about forty species of marmosets. The optimal temperature for a comfortable stay is 19-25 degrees. However, some species have adapted to survive in harsh environmental conditions - a drought for ten months, seasonal rains. In addition to their natural range, marmosets have been identified in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
Marmoset: interesting facts
Among the curious facts:
- Age-related changes in the brain, as well as its structure, are close to similar processes in the human brain. This was the reason to use them for research on neurological pathologies, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
- The flocks maintain a certain order.
- The leader and the alpha female give peculiar signals, expressing their dissatisfaction, for example, raising their hair on end, arching their back, etc.
- The dominant individual, when meeting with the young, turns back to her and lifts her tail up. Such a gesture means a threat signal. And for other primates, it is humility and submission.
- They rarely descend to the ground, they can climb to the very top of the tree.
- There are several known cases of dangerous infectious diseases carried by monkeys.
Conclusion
The life expectancy of the marmoset is from 10 to 12 years. There is evidence that in captivity one primate lived up to 18.5 years. It should be noted that scientistsrecorded high mortality among the offspring. Of a hundred babies born, sixty-seven survive. Under natural conditions, such a situation is dangerous for the extinction of the population.
