Buffy Tufted Ear Marmoset

The body of Callithix aurita is mostly black. The tail is black annulated with black and gray. There are white spots on the forehead. The most distinguishing character is the extremely long white hair coming out of the ears. The lower incisors are small compared to other Callithrix because this species does not use its incisors to obtain plant exudates by perforating tree bark. Their body size is small. (Hershkovitz 19977, Muskin 1984, Natori et al 1992)

Average mass: 306 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Callithrix aurita live in subtropical forests at elevation between 400 to 500m. They use all parts of the forest. They seem to prefer to forage below 5 meters. They don't come down to the ground unless they are feeding. (Muskin 1984)

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

Callithrix aurita is endemic to the Atlantic forest of south-east Brazil. They occupy the montane forests of south-east Brazil in the southern part ofMinas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and the east and north-eastao Paulo. They are the most southern distributed species in the Callithrix. (Hershkovitz 1977, Rylands 1993)

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

Callithrix aurita is primarily insectivorous. Their diet includes ants, termites, larvae, caterpillars, insect galls, and large-winged insects. This particular marmoset species does not feed on plant exudates as all other closely related marmoset species do. (Muskin 1984)

Animal Foods: insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

US Federal List: endangered

CITES: appendix i

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

Callithrix aurita are captured as pets. They are prized by some Europeans. (Hershkovitz 1977)

Most Callithrix aurita give birth to two young during spring each year. Gestation period is about 170 days, ranging from 138 days to 170 days. (Hershkovitz 1997)

Breeding interval: Callithrix aurita breeds once each year.

Average number of offspring: 2.

Range gestation period: 138 to 170 days.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous

Active during the day, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset can be found in small groups foraging in the tree canopy (2). Like other marmosets, a large portion of this species' diet consists of gums and saps, obtained either by licking holes made by wood boring insects, or by gouging tree trunks, branches and vines of certain plant species with the specialised, small, tusk-like canine teeth of the lower jaw (2) (5). This latter form of gum extraction is quite destructive, often leaving trees riddled with hundreds of small slits and holes (2). While gum is consumed throughout the year, this species will preferentially take fruits during the wet season, and, unusually for a marmoset, will also feed on certain species of fungi found on bamboo (1) (5). Insects are another major source of food for this species, and may include grasshoppers (5), as well as swarms of army ants (7). Buffy-tufted-ear marmoset groups may comprise either a single breeding pair, along with their offspring and sometimes members of extended family (1) (8), or a single male with multiple female breeding partners and their offspring (5) (9). Home ranges are relatively large, with a significant portion actively defended as the group's territory (5). Marmosets generally give birth to non-identical twins, which are cooperatively reared within the group, with both parents and other family members sharing the duty of carrying the vulnerable infants (2) (8).

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is currently listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits all international trade in this species (3). In addition, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is found in a few protected areas throughout its range (1). Despite the drastic levels of destruction and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest, the region is now receiving extensive conservation attention, which hopefully will help to ensure the survival of the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset (10) (11) (12).

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset belongs to a family of tiny New World monkeys, the Callitrichidae, which comprises the marmosets and tamarins (4). Like other marmosets, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset has striking ear tufts which, as its common name suggests, are coloured pale buff or whitish. The sides of the head are densely furred and black, while, in contrast, the crown is creamy white. The rest of the body is dark blackish brown, with the exception of the tail, which is grizzled yellowish-grey and marked with distinct black bands. Unlike some of the larger New World monkeys, the tails of marmosets and tamarins are not prehensile, but are extremely long and used for balance. The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset's vocalisations comprise a variety of high-pitched whistles, chirps and twitters (2).

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset inhabits the Atlantic Forest region, generally occurring in montane rainforests, as well as disturbed secondary forest, up to elevations of 1,200 metres, where temperatures may fall below freezing during the dry season (April to September) (5) (6).

Endemic to Brazil, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is found in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais, throughout Rio de Janeiro, and in the east and north-east of São Paulo (1).

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix I on CITES (3).

The major threat to the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is the widespread destruction of its Atlantic Forest habitat. The effects have been particularly severe in lowland areas, apparently leading to the extinction of this species from lowland forest in the state of São Paulo. Additional threats to the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset include hunting for trade, as well as competition and interbreeding with introduced marmoset species. With a declining, highly fragmented population, this species faces an uncertain future (1).

The buffy-tufted marmoset (Callithrix aurita), also known as the buffy tufted-ear marmoset or white-eared marmoset, is a New World monkey that lives in the forests on the Atlantic coast of southeast Brazil. Of all the marmosets, it has the southernmost range.

The buffy-tufted marmoset resembles the common marmoset, but is somewhat larger. It has grey-black skin, and the most obvious differences from the common marmoset are its whitish face ("skull-like facial mask",) brown crown, and shorter ear tufts.

The buffy-tufted marmoset lives in coastal forests from sea level up to 500 m. It is diurnal and arboreal, living almost all its life in the trees. It lives in small groups of two to eight animals. Unlike most other marmosets, the buffy-tufted marmoset almost exclusively eats insects. It does not eat tree sap, which may be related to having a very small snout. Aside from the insects, the buffy-tufted marmoset consumes also consumes varying types of flowering plants, such as Combretaceae and legumes, as well as gum, soursops, and cacti.

Little is known about the buffy-tufted marmoset reproductive patterns. Gestation is about 170 days, and births are typically of fraternal twin offspring.