コモンマーモセットはサルとしては小型で、長い尾を特徴とする。オスとメスの大きさの差は小さいが、オスの方が若干大きい。体長はオスで平均188 mm (7.40 in)、メスで185 mm (7.28 in)、体重はオスで256 g (9.03 oz)、メスで236 g (8.32 oz)である[14]。体毛の色は多色で、茶色、灰色、黄色のものが混ざって存在している。耳は白い長い毛で覆われており、また尾には縞模様がある。顔は皮膚が露出し、前頭部には白い斑がある[15]。幼獣は茶色で、黄色い毛と耳の白い毛は後から発達してくる。
Common marmosets employ a number of vocal and visual communications. To signal alarm, aggression, and submission, marmosets use the "partial open mouth stare," "frown," and "slit-stare", respectively. To display fear or submission, marmosets flatten their ear-tufts close to their heads.[21] Marmosets have two alarm calls: a series of repeating calls that get higher with each call, known as "staccatos"; and short trickling calls given either intermittently or repeatedly. These are called "tsiks". Marmoset alarm calls tend to be short and high-pitched.[24] Marmosets monitor and locate group members with vibrato-like low-pitched generic calls called "trills".[29] Marmosets also employ "phees" which are whistle-like generic calls. These serve to attract mates, keep groups together, defend territories, and locate missing group members.[29] Marmosets will use scent gland on their chests and anogenital regions to mark objects. These are meant to communicate social and reproductive status.[21]
メスのコモンマーモセットのゲノムが2014年に報告され、新世界ザルの中で初めて完全なゲノムがわかった種となった。[11]ゲノムのサイズは2.26 Gbで、21,168遺伝子を含んでいた[10]。文節的重複 英:Segmental duplicationsにより、全138 Mbの of non-redundant sequences (4.7% of the whole genome), slightly less than observed in human[37][38] or chimpanzee (~5%),[39] but more than in orangutan (3.8%).[40]
^ abColin P. Groves, Genus Callithrix, Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 129-133.
^Rylands AB and Mittermeier RA (2009). “The Diversity of the New World Primates (Platyrrhini)”. In Garber PA, Estrada A, Bicca-Marques JC, Heymann EW, Strier KB. South American Primates: Comparative Perspectives in the Study of Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Springer. pp. 23–54. ISBN978-0-387-78704-6
^ abWorley, Kim C; Warren, Wesley C; Rogers, Jeffrey; Locke, Devin; Muzny, Donna M; Mardis, Elaine R; Weinstock, George M; Tardif, Suzette D et al. (2014). “The common marmoset genome provides insight into primate biology and evolution”. Nature Genetics(Online). doi:10.1038/ng.3042.
^ abcdRowe, N. (1996). Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates. East Hampton: Pogonias Press. ISBN0-9648825-0-7
^Groves C. (2001) Primate taxonomy. Washington DC: Smithsonian Inst Pr.
^Garber PA, Rosenberger AL, Norconk MA. (1996) "Marmoset misconceptions". In: Norconk MA, Rosenberger AL, Garber PA, editors. Adaptive radiations of neotropical primates. New York: Plenum Pr. p 87-95.
^ abcdKinzey WG. 1997. "Synopsis of New World primates (16 genera) ". In: Kinzey WG, editor. New world primates: ecology, evolution, and behavior. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. p 169-324.
^Rylands AB, Coimbra-Filho AF, Mittermeier RA. 1993. "Systematics, geographic distribution, and some notes on the conservation status of the Callitrichidae". In: Rylands AB, editor. Marmosets and tamarins: systematics, behaviour, and ecology. Oxford (England): Oxford Univ Pr. p 11-77.
^ abcRylands AB, de Faria DS. (1993) "Habitats, feeding ecology, and home range size in the genus Callithrix". In: 'Rylands AB, editor. Marmosets and tamarins: systematics, behaviour, and ecology. Oxford (England): Oxford Univ Pr. p 262-72.
^ abFerrari SF, Lopes Ferrari MA. (1989) "A re-evaluation of the social organization of the Callitrichidae, with reference to the ecological differences between genera". Folia Primatol 52: 132-47.
^ abcdefghijStevenson MF, Rylands AB. (1988) "The marmosets, genus Callithrix". In: Mittermeier RA, Rylands AB, Coimbra-Filho AF, da Fonseca GAB, editors. Ecology and behavior of neotropical primates, Volume 2. Washington DC: World Wildlife Fund. p 131-222.
^ abcdDigby LJ. (1995) "Social organization in a wild population of Callithrix jacchus: II, Intragroup social behavior". Primates 36(3): 361-75.
^ abLazaro-Perea C. (2001) "Intergroup interactions in wild common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus: territorial defense and assessment of neighbours". Anim Behav 62: 11-21.
^ abArruda MF, Araujo A, Sousa MBC, Albuquerque FS, Albuquerque ACSR, Yamamoto ME. 2005. "Two breeding females within free-living groups may not always indicate polygyny: alternative subordinate female strategies in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) ". Folia Primatol 76(1): 10-20.
^Baker JV, Abbott DH, Saltzman W. (1999) "Social determinants of reproductive failure in male common marmosets housed with their natal family". Anim Behav 58(3): 501-13.
^ abcSaltzman W, Severin JM, Schultz-Darken NJ, Abbott DH. (1997) "Behavioral and social correlates of escape from suppression of ovulation in female common marmosets with the natal family". Am J Primatol 41:1-21.
^ abcYamamoto ME. (1993) From dependence to sexual maturity: the behavioural ontogeny of Callitrichidae". In: Rylands AB, editor. Marmosets and tamarins: systematics, behaviour, and ecology. Oxford (England): Oxford Univ Pr. p 235-54.
^ abJones CB. (1997) "Quantitative analysis of marmoset vocal communication". In: Pryce C, Scott L, Schnell C, editors. Marmosets and tamarins in biological and biomedical research: proceedings of a workshop. Salisbury (UK): DSSD Imagery. p 145-51.
^Cavalcanti RB, Joly CA. (2002) "Biodiversity and conservation priorities in the cerrado region". In: Oliveira PS, Marquis RJ, editors. The cerrados of Brazil: ecology and natural history of a neotropical savanna. New York: Columbia Univ Pr. p 351-67.
^Duarte-Quiroga A, Estrada A. (2003) "Primates as pets in Mexico City: an assessment of the species involved, source of origin, and general aspects of treatment". Am J Primatol 61: 53-60.
^ abAbbott DH, Barnett DK, Colman RJ, Yamamoto ME, Schultz-Darken NJ. (2003) "Aspects of common marmoset basic biology and life history important for biomedical research". Compar Med 53(4): 339-50.
^Rylands AB. (1997) "The callitrichidae: a biological overview". In: Pryce C, Scott L, Schnell C, editors. Marmosets and tamarins in biological and biomedical research: proceedings of a workshop. Salisbury (UK): DSSD Imagery. p 1-22.
^McPherson, John D.; Marra, Marco; Hillier, LaDeana; Waterston, Robert H.; Chinwalla, Asif; Wallis, John; Sekhon, Mandeep; Wylie, Kristine et al. (2001). “A physical map of the human genome”. Nature409 (6822): 934–941. doi:10.1038/35057157. PMID11237014.
^and Analysis Consortium, The Chimpanzee Sequencing (2005). “Initial sequence of the chimpanzee genome and comparison with the human genome”. Nature437 (7055): 69–87. doi:10.1038/nature04072. PMID16136131.