Callimico goeldii
Goeldi's marmoset
(Also: Goeldi's monkey)

Located between 1 degree north and 13 degrees south latitude in the northern Amazon forests, Callimico goeldii can be found in southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, western Brazil, and northern Bolivia. BR

(Burton 1987; Nowak 1999; Pook 1990; Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

Pook (1990) reports that Callimico goeldii inhabit areas of the Amazon rainforest that have patchy canopy cover and strong undergrowth. Thornback and Jenkins (1982) describe it as "shabby forest such as mixed forest, scrub, second-growth woods, bamboo forests, and forest with discontinuous canopies and well-developed scrub. The majority of their time is spent at levels of less than 5 meters with forays to higher elevations for fruit.<BR>

(Pook 1990; Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

According to a study by Hershkovitz (1977), Callimico goeldii are small with a length of 210-234 mm, and a tail length of 255-324 mm. They are dark brown or black with possible white areas on and around the face. Longer hairs form "a mane [that] drapes from the neck and shoulders and extend also from above the base of the tail" (Nowak 1999). Adults have pale rings on the tail. Other characteristics include clawlike nails on all of the digits excluding the large toe and a dental formula of 2/2, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3.<BR>

(Hershkovitz 1977; Nowak 1999; Pook 1990)

Callimico goeldii generally stay within 5 meters of the forest floor and travel to higher elevations in order to obtain fruit. They sleep close together "in dense underbrush or in a hollow tree" (Pook 1990). They also rest in a dense group roughly 3 times per day at an elevation of less than 2 meters in "dense brush or on inclined trunks of fallen trees" (Pook 1990). Resting periods average 30 to 90 minutes, where Goeldi's monkeys may sun bath or groom.<BR><BR>

Callimico goeldii are vertical climbers and leapers. They leap from one tree, turn in flight, and grab their target. Pook (1990) has reported that they can "leap a distance of about 13 ft (4 m) horizontally without losing height; and this was done only about 12 in. (30 cm) above the ground." He also reports that this is a very silent method of travel, disturbing little vegetation. Callimico goeldii travel roughly 2 km per day in a circular pattern and within a territory of 30-80 hectacres.<BR><BR>

Callimico goeldii exhibit extensive social communication through vocalizations, scent, facial, and body language. Vocalizations include long distance cries that are effective over 100 meters and ultrasonic sounds. Scent glands on the stomach are used when they "stretch their limbs, arch their backs, and thrust the coiled tail under their body, moving it back and forth over the ventral surface, which is thereby moistened with urine and scents" (Pook 1990).<BR>

(Nowak 1999; Pook 1990; Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

The diet of Callimico goeldii consists primarily of fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. A group of Goeldi's monkeys will travel and feed in fruiting trees. Competition for fruit seems not to be a problem. They hunt individually, leaping to the ground to obtain small verebrates.<BR>

(Pook 1990)

N/A

Because they are rare and internationally protected, poachers, particularly in Bolivia, are able to sell Callimico goeldii for large profits on the black market. BR

(Pook 1990)

Callimico goeldii are listed as Appendix I under CITES, therefore commercial import and export has been banned. This is not well enforced in Bolivia. Loss of habitat and dangers from hunting and trapping are severely threatening Callimico goeldii populations. They seem to do well under captive conditions, and are housed in a number of zoos worldwide with highly successful breeding programs at the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (GB) and the Brookfield Zoo (Chicago).<BR>

(Pook 1990; Thornback and Jenkins 1982; Wilson and Reeder 1993;)