English            -             Common Marmoset

Portuguese    -              Sagui-de-Tufos-Brancos

Latin               -               Callithrix jacchus

Coming from a monkey free country like New Zealand, I always get a buzz when I manage to see and photograph any sort of Monkey. They are interesting things to watch and you get that feeling that they are also studying you.

Unfortunately the Common Marmoset which I photographed in the state of Rio de Janeiro at Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) on the forest trail (brown trail) is not a welcome visitor to the Atlantic rain forest in which REGUA is part of. They have been introduced from north eastern Brazil to this part of the world and have become an Invasive species by eating the eggs and nestlings of the native bird species. The Common Marmoset was a common species to see at REGUA, especially when you are walking around the forest trail or the wetlands. (yellow trail)

* The Common Marmoset is native to the northeastern coast of Brazil and is endemic to Brazil

* Through release (both intentional and unintentional) of captive individuals, it’s range has expanded.

* The Common Marmoset was introduced into Rio de Janeiro in the 1920’s.

* It is also called the Cotton Eared Marmoset. 

* It is one of the smallest species of monkey.

* An Adult can get to around 210 mm in length and weigh up to 260 gr.

* They feed on gum, insects, lizards, snails, fruit, flowers, nectar, eggs and nestlings of birds.

* It’s very common for the female  to gives birth to twins, but sometimes can give birth to 3-4.

* The Common Marmoset is classified as a species ”of least concern” on the IUCN red list. They do have a large population but it is thought to be in decline due to habitat loss and large numbers taken for the pet trade.