Active during the day, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset can be found in small groups foraging in the tree canopy (2). Like other marmosets, a large portion of this species' diet consists of gums and saps, obtained either by licking holes made by wood boring insects, or by gouging tree trunks, branches and vines of certain plant species with the specialised, small, tusk-like canine teeth of the lower jaw (2) (5). This latter form of gum extraction is quite destructive, often leaving trees riddled with hundreds of small slits and holes (2). While gum is consumed throughout the year, this species will preferentially take fruits during the wet season, and, unusually for a marmoset, will also feed on certain species of fungi found on bamboo (1) (5). Insects are another major source of food for this species, and may include grasshoppers (5), as well as swarms of army ants (7). Buffy-tufted-ear marmoset groups may comprise either a single breeding pair, along with their offspring and sometimes members of extended family (1) (8), or a single male with multiple female breeding partners and their offspring (5) (9). Home ranges are relatively large, with a significant portion actively defended as the group's territory (5). Marmosets generally give birth to non-identical twins, which are cooperatively reared within the group, with both parents and other family members sharing the duty of carrying the vulnerable infants (2) (8).

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset belongs to a family of tiny New World monkeys, the Callitrichidae, which comprises the marmosets and tamarins (4). Like other marmosets, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset has striking ear tufts which, as its common name suggests, are coloured pale buff or whitish. The sides of the head are densely furred and black, while, in contrast, the crown is creamy white. The rest of the body is dark blackish brown, with the exception of the tail, which is grizzled yellowish-grey and marked with distinct black bands. Unlike some of the larger New World monkeys, the tails of marmosets and tamarins are not prehensile, but are extremely long and used for balance. The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset's vocalisations comprise a variety of high-pitched whistles, chirps and twitters (2).

Callithrix aurita occurs in the montane rain forests of south-eastern Brazil, in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais, the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the east and north-east of the state of São Paulo (see Coimbra-Filho 1986b; Olmos and Martuscelli 1995; Brandão and Develey 1998; Ferrari et al. 1996). Hershkovitz (1977) marks the northern limit in Minas Gerais as the Rio Muriaé, but it occurs to the north in the Rio Doce State Park in Minas Gerais (Mittermeier et al. 1982), and hybrids (with C. flaviceps) have been recorded at Carangola in the Serra do Brigadeiro, Minas Gerais (Ferrari and Mendes 1991; Mendes 1997a,d; Cosenza and Melo 1998). Hershkovitz (1977) indicated the south-easternmost locality to be the Rio Ribeira de Iguapé in São Paulo. However, Olmos and Martuscelli (1995) failed to find evidence for this. They reported that extensive fieldwork (1982-1995) in such localities as the Fazenda Intervales State Park, Alto Ribeira State Park, Ilha do Cardoso and Carlos Botelho, and the Jureia Ecological Station and the muncipalities of Juquitiba amd Miracatú in the Serra da Paranapicaba consistently failed to find C. aurita. They proposed the southern limit to be near the city of São Paulo, north of the junction of the Rios Pinheiros and Tietê. The Rio Tieté forms the southernmost boundary and the most southerly record is close to Ipanema (23º26’S, 47º36’W), today Araçoiaba da Serra (the type locality for Leontopithecus chrysopygus). From there it extends west between the upper reaches of the Rios Tieté/Piracicaba. Again the exact limits are unclear, but believed by Olmos and Martusecelli (1995) to be the junction of these two rivers.

Brandão and Develey (1998) carried out surveys to understand better the range of C. aurita. Although generally believed to be largely montane in its range (600-1,200 m according to Olmos and Martuscelli (1995) and 500-800 m according to Rylands (1994)) museum specimens have been collected in the foothills of the Serra do Mar, south of Rio de Janeiro: Pedra Blanca, municipality of Paratí at 80 m, and Mambucaba, municipality of Angra dos Reis at 100 m (Brandão and Develey 1998). Coimbra-Filho (1991) and Mendes (1993) also indicated that it occurred elsewhere in lowland Rio de Janeiro, including the north-east, but is probably today extinct there. All recent records are montane. Brandão and Develey (1998) carried out extensive surveys of the lowland coastal forests of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and were unable to obtain evidence of the species’ existence anywhere except at Mambucaba where they found one in captivity and observed a group at 165 m.

This marmoset has been recorded north of the Rio Paraíba do Sul at the following sites: Mogi-Guaçú (Rio Mogi-Guaçú) by R. A. Mittermeier (unpubl.) and Muskin (1984); Alfenas, upper Rio Grande, in Minas Gerais (Hershkovitz 1977; Muskin 1984a); Vargem Grande, São Paulo (Muskin 1984a); Fazenda Monte Alegre, Monte Belo, Minas Gerais (Muskin 1984a) and in the vicinity of Viçosa, Minas Gerais (Mendes 1993); Serra do Capanema, Rio de Janeiro (21º03’S, 42º03’W) (Mendes 1993), Fazenda João Abdo, Rio de Janeiro (21º27’S, 41º56’W) (Mendes 1993). The westernmost locality shown by Hershkovitz (1977, p.490) is Boracéia, north-east of Bauru, on the upper Rio Tieté (22°10'S, 48°45'W), but Olmos and Martuscelli (1995) found this to be an outlier and suggested that locality really refers to the Boracéia Biological Station near the headwaters of the Rio Tietê.

Callithrix aurita is endemic to the Atlantic forest of south-east Brazil. They occupy the montane forests of south-east Brazil in the southern part ofMinas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and the east and north-eastao Paulo. They are the most southern distributed species in the Callithrix. (Hershkovitz 1977, Rylands 1993)

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

Historic Range:
Brazil

Endemic to Brazil, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is found in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais, throughout Rio de Janeiro, and in the east and north-east of São Paulo (1).

The body of Callithix aurita is mostly black. The tail is black annulated with black and gray. There are white spots on the forehead. The most distinguishing character is the extremely long white hair coming out of the ears. The lower incisors are small compared to other Callithrix because this species does not use its incisors to obtain plant exudates by perforating tree bark. Their body size is small. (Hershkovitz 19977, Muskin 1984, Natori et al 1992)

Average mass: 306 g.

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Callithrix aurita live in subtropical forests at elevation between 400 to 500m. They use all parts of the forest. They seem to prefer to forage below 5 meters. They don't come down to the ground unless they are feeding. (Muskin 1984)

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset inhabits the Atlantic Forest region, generally occurring in montane rainforests, as well as disturbed secondary forest, up to elevations of 1,200 metres, where temperatures may fall below freezing during the dry season (April to September) (5) (6).

Callithrix aurita is primarily insectivorous. Their diet includes ants, termites, larvae, caterpillars, insect galls, and large-winged insects. This particular marmoset species does not feed on plant exudates as all other closely related marmoset species do. (Muskin 1984)

Animal Foods: insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Most Callithrix aurita give birth to two young during spring each year. Gestation period is about 170 days, ranging from 138 days to 170 days. (Hershkovitz 1997)

Breeding interval: Callithrix aurita breeds once each year.

Average number of offspring: 2.

Range gestation period: 138 to 170 days.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

US Federal List: endangered

CITES: appendix i

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

Current Listing Status Summary

Status: Endangered
Date Listed: 05/16/1986
Lead Region: Foreign (Region 10) 
Where Listed:


Population detail:

Population location: entire
Listing status: E

For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Callithrix aurita, see its USFWS Species Profile

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix I on CITES (3).

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

The major threat to the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is the widespread destruction of its Atlantic Forest habitat. The effects have been particularly severe in lowland areas, apparently leading to the extinction of this species from lowland forest in the state of São Paulo. Additional threats to the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset include hunting for trade, as well as competition and interbreeding with introduced marmoset species. With a declining, highly fragmented population, this species faces an uncertain future (1).

Conservation Actions

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is currently listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits all international trade in this species (3). In addition, the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset is found in a few protected areas throughout its range (1). Despite the drastic levels of destruction and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest, the region is now receiving extensive conservation attention, which hopefully will help to ensure the survival of the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset (10) (11) (12).

Callithrix aurita are captured as pets. They are prized by some Europeans. (Hershkovitz 1977)