The Pygmy Marmoset goes by many names, Dwarf Monkey, mono de bolsillo which means “pocket monkey”, and leoncito which means “little lion”.  Its little body measures only about 6 inches, not including the tail which is also longer than than the body by a couple inches.  Adults weigh less than 5 ounces.

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The little monkey comes from the rain forest canopies of South America, where its tiny size lets it reach food in the highest and most brittle branches.  They are omnivorous, mostly eating fruit and insects, but occasionally will eat frogs, eggs, and small lizards.

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They also have special incisors they use for gouging at tree bark for sap.  It spends about two thirds of its time harvesting the gummy tree sap.

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Twins are common among these tiny little primates.

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There are two subspecies of the Pygmy Marmoset, Cebuella Pygmaea Pygmaea and Cebuella Pygmaea Niveiventris.   The difference between the two is mostly coloring.

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Luckily, these little guys are not endangered, but their habitat is shrinking.