Interpretation Guide Status Danger Threats Population Distribution Habitat Diet White-fronted Marmoset (Geoffroy s) Updated: January 24, 2018 SSP Yellow Least Concern (IUCN Red List) Loss of habitat Wild: Stable Tropical areas of South America Tropical areas in the trees Wild: The marmoset eats vegetation and small invertebrates as well as tree gums, saps, and resins. Marmosets eat fruits, flowers, and nectar and animal prey including frogs, snails, lizards, spiders, and insects. Zoo Knoxville: Marmoset diet, marmoset jelly, fruits, some vegetables Size Length: 8 inches, plus an 11-inch tail Weight: 9-13 ounces. Longevity Wild: 10 to 15 years average Social Family Units They live in large social groups of 10-20. Reproduction Marmosets are monogamous. Marmosets are among the only monkeys or apes that regularly give birth to twins. Males and siblings participate heavily in the care of the young. Our Animals Willow, female, born 8/1/06 and Wan, male, born 8/2/2014 Scientific Name Order: Primates Family: Cebidae Genus: Callithrix Species: geoffroyi
Additional Information Our White-fronted Marmosets Willow Sex: Female Birth: August 1, 2006 Born at: Callitrichid Research Center, Omaha, Neb. Origin: Same Wan Sex: Male Birth: August 2, 2014 Born at: Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn, NY Origin: Same Most marmosets are on loan by the government of Brazil. They are managed by IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiante e dos recursos Naturals Renovaveis or Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), which is based in Brasilia, the nation s capital. Habitat Information They share their habitat, located near the Nursery with the six-banded armadillos. Status Danger Threats Population Wild: Distribution The marmoset lives in the Atlantic rainforests of southeast Brazil in the secondary lowland, evergreen, and semi-deciduous forest and forest edge up to 164 feet (500m). Habitat Ecosystem Relationships Predators: Interspecies Competition: Role/Niche: Diet Wild: At least half their day is spent foraging for food. They have to work very hard to get their food: chasing and catching insects, gnawing at trees for gum, searching for fruiting trees using their memory to help find them, and climbing and hanging down to reach the fruits then getting through the tough outer skin to the fruit inside.
Zoo Knoxville: Size Scientists suggest that the species has evolved to take advantage of an insect diet and as a part of the process, its members have become smaller. Longevity Wild: Social Family Units Geoffroy's marmosets live in large social groups that can include as many as 20 individuals (more commonly groups of 8 to 10) in which fathers, as well as other group members, provide extensive care for the young. Adult offspring may remain in the group and help care for their younger siblings. Reproduction Animal Neighbors in the Wild 427 mammals, 300 birds, 378 reptiles, more than 400 amphibians. This is illustrative of the diversity of wildlife in the Amazon. Caring for Animals Handling can cause distress to marmosets. Capture should be carried out only if there is no alternative, e.g., for essential veterinary procedures. To avoid direct handling, marmosets can be trained to cooperate with husbandry procedures using a technique called positive reinforcement training. Training can also lead to other benefits, including reduced levels of stress and boredom for the marmosets, and an improved relationship between caregiver and marmosets. The marmoset enclosure should allow marmosets to remain above human head height and include furnishings allowing for natural behavior such as leaping. These animals require a tropical environment with temperatures of 73 F-77 F and humidity of 40%-70%. A thorough cleaning of the enclosure should only be done once every 1-2 months. Scent marking is important to the marmosets and cleaning should not remove familiar scents completely. In captivity, marmosets need to be provided with a range of appetizing and nutritious foods. Feed marmosets several times a day to match their natural eating times. Commercially available dry pellets containing the necessary nutritional components of their diet should be supplemented with a variety of other foods: fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. And animal protein (e.g., insects, mealworms, boiled chicken, and hard-boiled eggs). Place the food dishes at least 3 feet above the ground (marmosets prefer to feed and eat higher up where they feel safer, especially if they are carrying infants on their back). Marmosets should also have access to as much water as they wish to drink. Provide food in several food dishes, and water at several points, to make sure everyone gets some. They need dietary supplements to avoid metabolic bone disease. Vitamin D3 should be given as a supplement because the marmosets cannot make it in their own body. Enrichment Food should be presented to the marmosets in a way that encourages their natural food finding behavior: foraging, gnawing, catching insects, and finding, reaching, and getting into fruit. Introducing new foods and novel textures stimulates the marmosets curiosity and interest. Importantly, food used for enrichment should be restricted to the types and quantities within the normal daily diet. Using extra food can lead to obesity.
Behaviors Marmosets are highly active during the day. They live in the upper canopy of forest trees. They are largely quadrupedal (using four limbs or legs to move) but also engage in vertical clinging and leaping locomotion. Communication/Vocalization Marmosets are highly vocal. Calling is a striking aspect of common marmoset behavior. Marmosets make a range of high-pitched calls, some of which sound like those of birds. Vocalization is a very important mode of communication in marmosets because their natural environment (often dense vegetation) makes visual communication difficult. Geoffroy s marmosets make alarm calls when they perceive a threat. They also have been observed scent marking. Allogrooming (social grooming between members of the same species) has been observed, too, and is thought to contribute to calming the group after a threat has passed. Conservation Efforts by Zoo Knoxville Did You Know? Males and females look similar: Geoffroy's marmosets have a blackish-brown coat with elongated black ear tufts. They have a white forehead, cheeks, and throat, with dark brown underparts and a black tail that is lightly ringed. This species members are considered monkeys, not apes, because they have a tail. Biofacts Biofacts may be available for this species. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information. SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP) The Species Survival Plan (SSP) is AZA s cooperative breeding and conservation program. Members agree to manage and exchange animals in the best interest of the species. The mission is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species. All SSP Programs fall into one of three categories. Here are some characteristics of each: GREEN These programs are the most sustainable over time. They have a published regional studbook. The populations can maintain a genetic diversity of >90% for 100 years or 10+ generations. These species are managed by at least three AZA member institutions. YELLOW These programs are potentially sustainable but need additional attention to increase sustainability. They have a published regional studbook. There are at least 50 animals in each population. The populations are not able to maintain at least 90% genetic diversity for 100 years or 10+ generations. They are managed by at least three AZA member institutions. RED These programs are not currently genetically sustainable. Additional animals are needed. They have a published regional studbook. Current populations include between 20 and 50 individuals in each program. They are managed by at least three AZA member institutions. CANDIDATE (PURPLE) These are animal programs that hope to grow into an SSP program. There are generally 19 or fewer animals in each program and/or they are held at only one or two institutions. They do not currently have a published regional studbook. FINAL NOTE Animal programs that manage species designated Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, or Endangered (see IUCN organization next page) do not need to meet minimum population size and number of participating institutions criteria to be designated as an SSP Program. These SSP Programs need only to have a published AZA Regional Studbook and three defined goals.
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (IUCN) For the past 50 years this organization has assessed the conservation status of species, subspecies, and varieties around the world. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN Red List) provides information and analyses on the status, trends, and threats to species in order to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation. Some 79,800 species have been assessed; the organization s goal is to assess a total of 160,000 species by 2020. This includes vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fungi and other species groups. Much more information can be found at www.iucnredlist.org. Assessed species are placed in one of nine categories, for which certain criteria must be met by a species to be placed in a specific category. This information is available on the website. These are brief descriptions: EXTINCT (EX): There is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. EXTINCT IN THE WILD (EW): Survivors exist only in cultivation, in captivity, or as a naturalized population well outside its native range. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR): The species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. ENDANGERED (EN): The species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. VULNERABLE (VU): The species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. NEAR THREATENED (NT): The species is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. LEAST CONCERN (LC): The species does not meet any of the criteria for any of the endangered categories. There are widespread and abundant populations. DATA DEFICIENT (DD): Information is not sufficient to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of the risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. NOT EVALUATED (NE): The species has not been evaluated against the criteria.