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August 24, 2006
Cheeky Little Monkeys
What a pair - these funny little creatures are albino Pygmy Marmoset monkeys, born at the Froso Zoo in Ostersund, Sweden this week.The Pygmy Marmoset, the world's smallest monkey which all grown up reaches just 35cm and weighs barely 100 grams, is quite rare, but this albino pair is particularly unusual.
The pair, pictured snuggled into a zookeeper's thumb almost as big as them, are twins, a common occurrence in Pygmy Marmosets, which are more likely to be born in pairs than single births.
The small squirrel-like critters are expert tree-climbers, they have ringed tails that are as long as their bodies and claws specially designed for scaling trees.
They use their tiny teeth to gouge holes in tree bark and also nibble on tree vines and fruit.
The monkeys, which are found in the wild in the upper Amazon basin in South America, are a popular exhibit in zoos and in captivity they can live for up to 11 years.
They communicate with each other through high pitched clicks, squeaks, whistles, and trills.
I hate that they are confined in a zoo, but they are cute little guys!
Read more here.
Posted by Dianne at August 24, 2006 3:39 PM
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