Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Geoffrey's marmoset Latin Name: Callithrix geoffroyi Class: Mammals Order:    Primates Description Small primates with long tails, Geoffrey's marmosets' bodies are dark while their tails are ringed. Adults have white faces complemented with black fur at the ears.

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Range
Brazil

Status
Stable, though as habitat destruction and predation continues, the Geoffrey's marmoset is increasingly threatened. Lincoln Park Zoo participates in the Geoffroy's Marmoset Species Survival Plan®, a shared conservation effort by zoos throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Habitat
At high elevations in dense forests, dry patches within forests and forest edges.

Niche
Geoffrey's marmosets are diurnal (active during the day), arboreal (tree-dwelling) and scansorial (expert climbers). Family groups contain as many as 10 individuals

Life History
The alpha male and female in each group forms a monogamous bond; they are the exclusive breeders. Gestation lasts about 144 days. Twins are common. The sire will clean the newborns before passing them to the dam. The sire exclusively carried the offspring for the first week while the dam recovers from delivery. Then aunts or siblings will pitch in. Offspring are weaned by six months reach sexual maturity by 18 months.

Special Adaptations

• Researchers have reported Geoffrey's marmosets trailing army ants in order to snatch insects flushed out by the aggressive insects.
• When threatened, Geoffrey's marmosets will vocalize an alarm that sounds like a chirpy whistle. When content—gobbling worms, for example—they purr. Following a threat, group members will groom one another to reduce stress.
• As omnivores, Geoffrey's marmosets eat fruit, flowers, plant gum, insects, worms, lizards and spiders.