| Mico[1][2] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Callitrichidae |
| Genus: | Mico Lesson, 1840 |
| Type species | |
| Mico argentatus | |
| Species | |
16, see text | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
| |
Mico is agenus ofNew World monkeys of the familyCallitrichidae, the family containingmarmosets andtamarins. The genus was formerly considered a subgenus of the genusCallithrix.
Mico differs fromCallithrix indental morphology,genetics and geographic distribution:Callithrix species are distributed in easternBrazil (mainly theAtlantic Forest), whileMico species are distributed in theAmazon rainforest south of the lowerAmazon andMadeira Rivers, though a single species, theblack-tailed marmoset, also occurs in thePantanal andChaco.[5]Roosmalens' dwarf marmoset (Mico humilis) was briefly considered to be a member of a newmonotypic genus,Callibella, due mainly to differences in size, genetics, and its bearing of a single young rather than the two that marmosets usually bear.[6][7] Roosmalens' dwarf marmoset is significantly smaller than theMico species, being about midway between the typicalMico species and thepygmy marmoset,Cebuella pygmaea.[6]Mico species differ from the tamarins of the genusSaguinus in thatMico has enlargedincisor teeth the same size as thecanine teeth which are used for gouging holes in trees to extractexudates.[8]
Species leveltaxonomy withinMico has also changed significantly in recent decades. Earlier authorities usually treated all assubspecies ofM. argentatus (including the bare-earedtaxa) orM. humeralifera (including the hairy-eared taxa), or even suggested all were subspecies ofM. argentatus.[9][10][11] Recent authorities have pointed out that several of the taxa are highly distinctive, and following thephylogenetic species concept all previous subspecies were proposed raised to species status in 2001.[12] This has generally been followed since then.[1][2][5] Furthermore, nine of the sixteen currently recognized species were only described to science after 1990.[13] The validity of one species described in 2000,M. manicorensis (the Manicore marmoset), is questionable, as a review found no differences between it andM. marcai (Marca's marmoset),[14] leading theIUCN to treat the former as asynonym of the latter.[15]
In general,Mico andCallithrix species tend to form larger groups and live within smaller home ranges, and thus live in higher population densities, than other callitrichids. But these statistics can vary dramatically among variousMico species.M. argentatus tends to live in smaller home ranges (as small as 10hectares or less) than otherMico species.[6]
Exudates, such as gum and sap, fruit, nectar and fungus make up the bulk ofMico's diet, but it also eats animal prey such asarthropods, young birds, smalllizards andfrogs. They are specialized for exploiting exudates by their elongated, chisel-like lower incisors and a wide jaw gape that allows them to gouge bark of trees that produce gums. Theirintestines also have an enlarged, complexcecum that allows them to digest gums more efficiently than most other animals.Mico's ability to feed on exudates allows it to survive in areas where fruit is highly seasonal or not readily available.[6]
Mico females generally gives birth to two or more infants at a time. They canovulate and conceive within two to four weeks after giving birth, and ovulation is not inhibited bylactation. Females generally reach sexual maturity between 12 and 17 months, and males between 15 and 25 months.[6]
Emilia's marmoset,Mico emiliae, sometimes interacts with thebrown-mantled tamarin,Saguinus fuscicollis.[6]
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