Silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus)
Habitat: Silvery marmosets are found south and east of the Amazon River in eastern Brazil.
Food habits: their diet consists mainly of the sap and gum of trees. With canines and incisors of equal length they are able to gouge holes in trees and lap up the exudate. They supplement their diet with fruit, insects, and leaves.
Silvery marmosets live in small, cohesive family groups consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring of various ages. They are predominantly arboreal, spending the majority of their time in the forest canopy. Their pale, whitish fur provides excellent camouflage against the light-colored bark of certain tropical trees. All members of the group, including the parents and older siblings, participate in the cooperative care and rearing of the young.
These primates are diurnal. Throughout the day, the group migrates from one fruiting tree to another in search of forage. At night, they seek refuge within the dense foliage or tree hollows to avoid predators. Despite their small stature, their long tails provide essential balance during rapid movement through the branches.
The species is primarily gumivorous. Their dentition consists of small, needle-sharp teeth specialized for wounding tree bark. In response to these incisions, the tree produces exudate (a gum-like resin rich in carbohydrates) to seal the wound. The marmosets prioritize this substance as a key energy source. By gouging fresh holes in the evening, they can return at sunrise to find a “prepared breakfast” of accumulated sap.
Population numbers in the wild are currently declining. The primary driver of this trend is anthropogenic habitat loss, resulting from the deforestation and conversion of the tropical rainforest.
Primates / Cebidae
IUCN Redlist: LC (Least Concern)
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