Page 142 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

142 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

Pygmy Marmoset

Looking like lions that have been magically miniaturized, pygmy

marmosets are one of the New World’s most surprising species of
monkey.These ring-tailed rainforest inhabitants survive almost
entirely on a diet of gum and sticky tree sap, which they tap using
specialized incisor teeth.

Claws
Most primates have nails.This
allows for the development of
sensitive finger tips and manual
dexterity.Although marmosets
are primates, they have claws
on all their digits except the
big toe.

Teeth
Tree sap is one of the
marmosets’ favourite foods.
Specialized incisor teeth at the
front of the jaw help them to
access the gum by gouging
holes through thick bark.

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.