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Callitrichidae - Marmosets, Tamarins

There are about 42 species of small primates in this family.

Marmosets and tamarins are found in Central and South America. They have rounded heads and eyes that face forward. Most species are covered in soft fur, except for on their faces. They have long, furred, non-prehensile tails, and most species have tufts of fur on their heads.

Most primates have flat nails on their fingers and toes, but marmosets and tamarins have sharp, downturned claws, except for on their big toes. These claws help them cling to bark as they climb through trees.

Females in this family usually have 1-3 babies a year. The babies are carried on their parents’ backs. Marmosets and tamarins live in family groups and are active during the day and at night.

Marmosets and tamarins spend most of their time in trees. Insects make up most of their diet, but they also eat birds, sap, fruits, and seeds.

  • Goeldi's monkey is found in the Amazon rainforests of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. It is only a little larger than a squirrel and has claws rather than nails on its fingers. IUCN Redlist status: Vulnerable
    Goeldi's Monkey
    (Callimico goeldii)
    Goeldi's monkey is found in the Amazon rainforests of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. It is only a little larger than a squirrel and has claws rather than nails on its fingers. IUCN Redlist status: Vulnerable
  • The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is found in southeastern Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Buffy-Tufted-Ear Marmoset
    (Callithrix aurita)
    The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is found in southeastern Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The buffy-headed marmoset is found in the southeastern states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais in Brazil. It has white tufts of hair that flare horizontally from the sides of its head. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Buffy-Headed Marmoset
    (Callithrix flaviceps)
    The buffy-headed marmoset is found in the southeastern states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais in Brazil. It has white tufts of hair that flare horizontally from the sides of its head. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • Geoffroy's tufted-ear marmoset is found in southeastern Brazil. It is around 8 inches in length, not including its tail. Adults are brown to black with white foreheads, cheeks, temples and throats and black ear tufts. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Geoffroy's Tufted-Ear Marmoset
    (Callithrix geoffroyi)
    Geoffroy's tufted-ear marmoset is found in southeastern Brazil. It is around 8 inches in length, not including its tail. Adults are brown to black with white foreheads, cheeks, temples and throats and black ear tufts. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The common marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Common Marmoset
    (Callithrix jacchus)
    The common marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Wied's black-tufted-ear marmoset is found in southeastern Brazil in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Wied's Black-Tufted-ear Marmoset
    (Callithrix kuhlii)
    Wied's black-tufted-ear marmoset is found in southeastern Brazil in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The black pencilled marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Pencilled Marmoset
    (Callithrix penicillata)
    The black pencilled marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Not including its tail, the pygmy marmoset is a little over five inches in length and is the world’s smallest true monkey. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Pygmy Marmoset
    (Cebuella pygmaea)
    Not including its tail, the pygmy marmoset is a little over five inches in length and is the world’s smallest true monkey. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The black mantle tamarin is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black Mantle Tamarin
    (Leontocebus nigricollis)
    The black mantle tamarin is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The golden-mantle saddleback tamarin is found in Ecuador and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Golden-Mantle Saddleback Tamarin
    (Leontocebus tripartitus)
    The golden-mantle saddleback tamarin is found in Ecuador and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The black-faced lion tamarin was first identified in 1990. It is found in the states of Parana and Sao Paulo in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Black-Faced Lion Tamarin
    (Leontopithecus caissara)
    The black-faced lion tamarin was first identified in 1990. It is found in the states of Parana and Sao Paulo in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The golden-headed lion tamarin is a small, squirrel-sized monkey. It is found in coastal Atlantic forests in the state of Bahia in south-eastern Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin
    (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)
    The golden-headed lion tamarin is a small, squirrel-sized monkey. It is found in coastal Atlantic forests in the state of Bahia in south-eastern Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The black lion tamarin, also known as the Golden-rumped lion tamarin is found in the state of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Black-Lion tamarin
    (Leontopithecus chrysopygus)
    The black lion tamarin, also known as the Golden-rumped lion tamarin is found in the state of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The golden lion tamarin is found in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. They are 6-10 inches in length with a12-15-inch tail. IUCN Status: Endangered
    Golden Lion Tamarin
    (Leontopithecus rosalia)
    The golden lion tamarin is found in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. They are 6-10 inches in length with a12-15-inch tail. IUCN Status: Endangered
  • The silvery marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Silvery Marmoset
    (Mico argentatus)
    The silvery marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The golden-white tassel-ear marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Golden-White Tassel-Ear Marmoset
    (Mico chrysoleucus)
    The golden-white tassel-ear marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Snethlage's marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Snethlage's Marmoset
    (Mico emiliae)
    Snethlage's marmoset is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-tailed marmoset is found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Black-Tailed Marmoset
    (Mico melanurus)
    The black-tailed marmoset is found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The silvery-brown tamarin is found in Colombia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Silvery-Brown Tamarin
    (Oedipomidas leucopus)
    The silvery-brown tamarin is found in Colombia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The cotton-headed tamarin is found in Colombia. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Cotton-Headed Tamarin
    (Oedipomidas oedipus)
    The cotton-headed tamarin is found in Colombia. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The Brazilian Bare-faced Tamarin, also known as the pied tamarin, I found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Brazilian Bare-faced Tamarin
    (Saguinus bicolor)
    The Brazilian Bare-faced Tamarin, also known as the pied tamarin, I found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The saddleback tamarin is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Saddleback Tamarin
    (Saguinus fuscicollis)
    The saddleback tamarin is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The red-chested mustached tamarin is found in Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Red-Chested Mustached Tamarin
    (Saguinus labiatus)
    The red-chested mustached tamarin is found in Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The yellow-handed tamarin is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Yellow-Handed Tamarin
    (Saguinus midas)
    The yellow-handed tamarin is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The mustached tamarin is found in Peru and Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Moustached Tamarin
    (Saguinus mystax)
    The mustached tamarin is found in Peru and Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-handed tamarin is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Black-Handed Tamarin
    (Saguinus niger)
    The black-handed tamarin is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The mottled-face tamarin is found in Colombia and Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Mottled-ace Tamarin
    (Tamarinus inustus)
    The mottled-face tamarin is found in Colombia and Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The bearded emperor tamarin is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. They are thought to be named after Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, because of their long, white moustaches. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Bearded Emperor Tamarin
    (Tamarinus subgrisescens)
    The bearded emperor tamarin is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. They are thought to be named after Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, because of their long, white moustaches. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Marmosets and tamarins are found in Central and South America.
Marmosets and tamarins are found in Central and South America.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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