(Callithrix argentata)

Judith Wolfe                Silvery Marmoset

Zoo collection includes: Three females

Found in the wild: Silvery marmosets are found south of the Amazon river in Eastern Brazil

See Them at the Central Park Zoo: Upstairs in the gallery in the Tropical Rain Forest.

Description: Silvery white to dark brown. Because of their dark tails, silvery marmosets are also called black-tailed marmosets. The young are dark furred and become whiter with age.  The Silvery Marmoset grows to 11 inches in length, and weighs about 14 ounces.  

Zoo Habitat: heir habitat is located at the entrance to the upstairs gallery and they will look at you as you come through the curtain. They have lots of vegetation and places to climb, groom and play.

What do they eat:  The diet predominantly consists of tree sap. They also eat bird eggs, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. CPZ feeds them a primate diet and fruit.

Life span: 17 years.

Threats:  Severely endangered because of habitat loss and illegal capture.

Fun Facts: Silvery Marmosets use an odd scent gland to mark their territories, and helps to keep others out. Some Silvery Marmosets may never leave the trees their entire lives, and if some do it is only because of a rare circumstance or to escape to another tree. Silvery Marmosets are diurnal and arboreal, using their claws to climb trees. The gestation period of the Silvery Marmoset is about 4-5 months and the mother will usually give birth to two, but sometimes three, young. When they are small, the entire colony will help in raising the young; however in six months the young are weaned and will mature until they are two years of age.