Pygmy Marmoset

rainforest · super tiny · South America · monkey

Impossibly small. Pygmy marmosets weigh just over 100 grams, about the same as three and a half ounces or a small apple. They are the smallest monkeys on Earth.

Rainforest home. These little monkeys live in the western Amazon Basin of South America, swinging through evergreen forests and hanging around the edges of rivers where they find their favorite food.

Gum specialists. Pygmy marmosets are gummivores, which means they poke holes in tree bark and eat the sticky gum that oozes out. This food is packed with energy to fuel their tiny bodies.

Social family groups. These monkeys live together in small family groups and are very social with each other, using calls and sounds to stay connected as they move through the treetops.

Two different species. Scientists recognize two separate species of pygmy marmosets, each with slightly different features and living in different parts of the Amazon rainforest.