Category: Mammals
Pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea), also known as pocket monkeys or finger monkeys, are native to South America. They grow to a length of about 6” including their tails. The thought of having a tiny monkey as pet might be appealing, but all monkeys are demanding pets, and pocket monkeys, like many other larger monkeys, can grow to be aggressive or hard to control as they get older (and depending on where you live, they may also be illegal, as well). The average life span of the pocket monkey in the wild is 11-12 years; in captivity it can get closer to 20 years. In the wild, these little 3-5 oz. 6” monkeys spend most of their time in trees and can leap about 5 meters (over 16 feet) from tree to tree. They also can leap into the next room from the perch on your finger, or right out the window. To get an idea of what his means, if you are 5’ 9” tall and if you could leap like a pocket monkey, you could jump 2,300 feet. At a track meet, you’d jump out of the stadium!
Wake me in 9 months…
There may be times when you are so tired you feel as if you could sleep for several days - but of course that is not possible without dying from dehydration. However, some mammals have such fine control over their metabolisms, they are capable of nodding off for days or even months, in a state called hibernation. This helps an animal survive during cold periods when food is scarce. A prime example is the alpine marmot who can hibernate for up to 9 months of the year: gathering food and adding about 50% more body weight (primarily fat) as summer ends, the alpine marmot seals itself in a deep burrow, heart rate slowing to five beats per minute, breathing as little as once per minute - emerging (far lighter!) in May, when food is once again available!
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