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Species
Callithrix geoffroyi (Humboldt, 1812)
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Callithrix geoffroyi was declared a separate species in 1988. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of Callithrix jacchus.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callithrix_geoffroyi/ |
Geoffroy's marmosets are small primates, only about 200 mm in length, with a tail of about 290 mm. Females tend to weigh around 190 g, while males range from 230 g to 350 g. The body is predominately dark or blackish brown. The tail is ringed with gray and black bands. Adults have white foreheads, cheeks, temples and throats. Adults also have tufts of black fur in front of their ears. Juveniles differ from adults in that they lack both the ear tufts and white markings around the face. Juveniles begin to grow their ear tufts at an age of about 2 weeks, and have full adult markings by the age of 5 months.
Range mass: 190 to 350 g.
Average length: 198 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
- Stevenson, M., A. Rylands. 1988. The Marmosets, Genus Callithrix . Pp. 131-222 in R Mittermeier, A Rylands, A Coimbra-Filho, eds. Ecology and Behavior of Neotropical Primates, Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: World Wildlife Fund.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callithrix_geoffroyi/ |
Population
Population Trend
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Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/3572 |
Geoffroy's marmosets inhabit secondary lowlands and sub-montane forest, evergreen, and semideciduous forest, forest edge and dry forest patches. They are generally found at an elevation of between 500 and 700 m, but can be found as high as 800 m.
Range elevation: 500 to 800 m.
Average elevation: 600 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest
- Rowe, N. 1996. The Pictoral Guide to Living Primates. East Hampton, New York: Pogonias Press.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callithrix_geoffroyi/ |
Major Threats
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Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/3572 |
Habitat and Ecology
Marmosets and tamarins are distinguished from the other monkeys of the New World by their small size, modified claws rather than nails on all digits except the big toe, the presence of two as opposed to three molar teeth in either side of each jaw, and by the occurrence of twin births. They eat fruits, flowers, nectar, plant exudates (gums, saps, latex) and animal prey (including frogs, snails, lizards, spiders and insects). Marmosets have morphological and behavioural adaptations for gouging trees trunks, branches and vines of certain species to stimulate the flow of gum, which they eat, and in some species form a notable component of the diet (Coimbra-Filho 1972; Rylands 1984). They live in extended family groups of between four and 15 individuals. Generally, only one female per group breeds during a particular breeding season. The groups defend home ranges 10-40 ha, the size depending on availability and distribution of foods and second-growth patches. Passamani and Rylands (2000b) recorded a home range of 23.3 ha, in a forest fragment of 119 ha surrounded by a Eucalyptus plantation, in the state of Espírito Santo.
Passamani (1996, 1998; Passamani and Rylands 2000a,b) studied the behaviour and ecology of a group of five C. geoffroyi in a forest fragment amongst Eucalyptus plantations of Aracruz Cellulose Cia., in Espirito Santo.
Size:
Males 359 g (n=46) (Rosenberger 1992).
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/3572 |
Geoffrey's marmoset has declined in numbers as a result of habitat destruction, capture for the pet trade, for exportation to zoos and for biomedical research, and persecution due to an assumption that they carry yellow fever and malaria (5) (6). Today, habitat destruction poses the greatest threat to this rare primate, which has left it restricted to small forest fragments (5) (6).
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/geoffroys-marmoset/callithrix-geoffroyi/ |
Found in lowland tropical and subtropical rainforest, frequently where there is secondary growth (1) (7) (8).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/geoffroys-marmoset/callithrix-geoffroyi/ |
Conservation Actions
Minas Gerais
Serra do Cipo National Park (33,800 ha), Minas Gerais (Oliveira et al. 2003)
Fazenda Córrego de Areia Reserve (60 ha) (privately owned)
Espirito Santo
Córrego Grande Biological Reserve (1,504 ha) (Mendes 1991; Chiarello 1999)
Córrego do Veado Biological Reserve (2,392 ha) (Mendes 1991; Chiarello 1999)
Sooretama Biological Reserve (27,943 ha) (Mendes 1991; Chiarello 1999)
Comboios Biological Reserve (833 ha) (Mendes 1991)
Duas Bocas State Reserve (2,910 ha) (Mendes 1991)
Linhares Forest Reserve (21,787 ha) (Mendes 1991; Chiarello 1999))
Goitacazes Forest Reserve (1,400 ha) (Mendes 1991)
Santa Lucia Biological Station (350 ha) (Mendes 1991)
Fazenda São Joaquim Reserve (Klabin Reserve) (1,505 ha)(Mendes 1991)
Its occurrence in the Monte Pascoal National Park is in some doubt, and Oliver and Santos (1991) reported that C. jacchus had possibly been introduced there.
Bahia
Porto Seguro Forest Reserve (6,069 ha)
Pau Brasil Experimental Station (900 ha)
Gregório Bondar Experimental Station (710 ha)
This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/3572 |
Geoffroy's marmosets are omnivorous, eating mostly fruit, insects, and plant gums. They also eat flowers, nectar, frogs, snails, lizards, and spiders. These small primates are able to gouge into tree trunks, branches, and vines to obtain gum.
Animal Foods: amphibians; reptiles; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks
Plant Foods: fruit; nectar; flowers; sap or other plant fluids
Primary Diet: omnivore
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Callithrix_geoffroyi/ |