Monkey Morphology

The term morphology refers to the structural components of an organism. Known for their distinctive morphology, callitrichids exhibit many uncommon and interesting characteristics.

Size: Callitrichids are the smallest of the monkey species, with body lengths ranging from 15 to 30 cm, and weights from 100 to 400 grams. Their compact size is an adaptation to their arboreal lifestyle, allowing them to navigate the dense forest canopy with ease.

Dental Adaptations: One of the most notable features of callitrichids is their dental formula (number and type of teeth). They have a reduced number of teeth compared to other primates, and a large pair of incisors specially adapted for accessing plant gums and saps.

Hand Morphology: Among primates, callitrichids have particularly unique hand morphologies. Their long curved hands and claw-like nails help them travel more easily from tree to tree, and, similar to their dentition, also help support specialized feeding behaviors.

The unique morphology of callitrichid primates serves as a reminder to the remarkable ways in which environmental pressures may influence evolutionary adaptations, and highlights the amazing diversity and beauty of the natural world.