<< Previous Next >>

Glad to be back with my 50th


Glad to be back with my 50th
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1400 W: 4 N: 2294] (7411)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-02
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 160
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Ricks Favourite Pictures Pt.II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-05-16 21:28
Viewed: 954
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cotton Tuff-Eared or Common Marmoset / Callithrix jacchus

Thanks to everybody who visited my portfolio in the time that I have been away from the site. I am glad to be back after a month. Our youngest, Werner got married to Naomi on the 9th May and I have been rather busy with the wedding arrangements. Please have a look at the workshop for a shot of the happy couple.

Today's posting of this "one toothed" marmoset monkey is my 50th and besides my 1st birthday in January, this is a rather important milestone for me. The photograph was taken in a bird park in Pretoria.

Marmosets belong to the family of Callitrichids, and are known as New World Monkeys.

Physical Features
Family groups up to 30 individuals (in captivity max 12). Only 1 breeding pair in a group. Their lifespan is between 7-20 years. Their body length reaches 18-30cm. The tail is between 17-40cm. Weight, 300-500 grams.

Except for the big toes, it has claws not nails unlike most monkeys. They have a flattened black face, thick white tufts on its ears, and long black and white fur. The tail is white ringed with black. The digits have curved claws, except on the big toe, which has a flat nail. The curved claw adaptation assists in horizontal jumping by enabling them to run up the sheer side of a tree, it also assists in grooming.

Infant Care
Infants must be nursed, carried and watched until they are old enough to take care of themselves. This period lasts approximately 4-8 weeks. The mother is the sole provider of care for the young. She devotes much of her time and energy to nursing. Caring for infants is a particularly large investment in time and energy. The "family structure" of the marmoset social group is important for successful infant rearing as large groups rear more infants than smaller ones. While infants develop in a relatively short time, the intensity of marmoset infant care is more than is observed in most other primate species (expect in tamarins).

After being carried for a period of time, the infants are transferred from one group member to another. The adult accepting the infants will position it so that the transfer is easier. If an infant is not being carried it will cry (ngä) to signal that it wants to be carried. When this happens, the accepting adult will again position itself so that the infant can crawl on. So, while infant marmosets are aided onto a carrier, they are not picked up and held during transfer and acceptance. As they get older and larger, they are encouraged to become more independent and are carried less frequently. An infant is rejected when an adult refuses to carry the infant as it attempts to climb on. Rejecting may involve non-wounding biting and cuffing by the adult to further discourage the infant.

The Growing Marmoset
As with all primate species, parental ability is a learned behaviour and therefore this experience is important. By 4-6 weeks, the young become interested in solid food and begin to sample items that the parent is eating. By 3 months, the young are almost self sufficient from a feeding point of view, but they continue to sleep on their parents' back until they are 4 months old. Permanent teeth begin to push through at 3½-4 months of age, beginning with the molars, and are completed by 7-8 months with the emergence of the canines. Sexual maturity is reached between 9-13 months in the male, and 18-24 months in the female.

Communication
Communication by sight is very important. These include facial expressions, body posture, raising body hair, and moving ear tufts. Body posture, moving ear tufts, and facial expressions become especially important during mating, aggressive and play encounters. Communication by sound occurs through vocalisations. Each primate species has a unique set of vocalisations. These can be used to communicate important information about group location, warning about a predator, contestants involved in aggressive encounters, and parents and offspring interactions. The common marmoset has its own set of vocalisations. Learning to recognise the individual sounds takes patience and a careful ear.

They have many different facial expressions, and they are all an important means for communicating information. Sometimes the position, in which a monkey is standing, sitting, or even holding its tail, delivers information to another individual. Smell is an important means of communication. Marmosets have a better developed sense of smell than humans. Communication by smell is called olfactory communication. The most common type of olfactory communication is scent marking. They scent mark by rubbing their scent glands over an area they want to mark. Other marmosets will then sniff or lick these markings to obtain the "message".

Aggression and Submission
This manner occurs under many different circumstances and includes a variety of behaviours, such as competition over resources (mates, food, territory) and the establishment or maintenance of social rank. While low-level, vocal aggression can be common in some primate species, all-out fighting is rare. It often leads to serious injury to one or all and is therefore very costly. For this reason, they are more likely to rely on threats and displays more often than actual physical combat.

Grooming
They groom each other (allo grooming) and themselves (self grooming). It serves 2 functions. Hygienic grooming allows them to remove dead skin, debris, parasites living on the skin, and social grooming is an important form of social contact. It helps to strengthen and form social bonds among group members and may even be used to ease tense interactions. In addition to grooming, other types of social contact are important for them. They may often be seen nuzzling, hugging, licking or huddling with one another.

Resting
They spend a large part of their day involved in resting. When resting, they may be awake and alert. During these times the monkey may be sitting or lying on its stomach with its tail in a relaxed and uncoiled position.

Diet
For all primates in the wild, searching for and consuming food takes up a large portion of the day. In their natural habitat, a marmoset may devote up to 50% of the day searching for and feeding on foods such as insects, fruits and tree gums and saps. Like other forest-dwelling primates, marmosets do not come down to the ground to drink. Instead they rely on water collected in the trees. Source

I hope you enjoyed looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
rcrick, zetu, roges, Metin, nikosrio, uleko, Alex99, jaycee, nasokoun, KOMSIS, horia, brunorsantana, sranjan, Silvio2006, CeltickRanger, goldyrs, Noisette, boreocypriensis, eng55, valy67, ramthakur, izler, jignasi, oscarromulus, SelenE has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 717 W: 38 N: 1560] (5019)
  • [2009-05-16 21:40]

Well let be be the first to congratulate you on your 50th, you don't look a day older then 25 ;),

Stunning shot of this Cotton Tuff-Eared or Common Marmoset (thats a mouth full) amazing detail, wonderful tight close-up, beautiful eyes, just superb, love it...

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 15 N: 1642] (6387)
  • [2009-05-16 21:57]

Hello Anna
Wonderful portrait with excellent details and natural colors. Well done.
Regards
Razvan

Hello Anna,
congratulations on your 50th posting; a fantastic portrait of Common Marmoset taken with superb sharpness and splendid colours, i like the lovely posture of this monkey in a very nice composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hello Anna,
You return with a beautifully composed shot of a striking species.
You are lucky to be able to capture such exotic creatures,although,I suppose any creature can be exotic depending on where you live.
Cheers & TFS
Steve

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 94 N: 5586] (17766)
  • [2009-05-17 1:12]

Hello Anna,
Congratulations on the happy couple. A 'forever memory'.
Also on your 50th posting. A beautiful one. I've seen these marmosets in the wild in Brazil. Nice small beauties.
The photo is excellent in sharpness, details and natural colours. Great POV, OOF BG and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Metin Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 28 W: 0 N: 16] (172)
  • [2009-05-17 1:27]

Hi Anna
A very different and impressive photo! great capture.Excellent details and very special colors..have a great weekend!

Hello Anna,
excellent portrait,beautifull colors, light and sharpness,
regards,
Nikos.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3005 W: 162 N: 1005] (2941)
  • [2009-05-17 5:48]

Hello Anna,
Congratulations on your 50th post showing a great portrait of this fine little Marmoset. I like your POV with sharp focus on the eyes and details and colours are beautiful. An excellent composition too!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Congrats on your 50th! Also congrats to the happy couple!

Your photo is great as usual. A benefit of shooting animals in captivity is that you can get real close up and personal and get the amazing detail that you got.

Well done, look forward to your next 50!
Peter

Hi Anna,
Congrats with your son and daughter in law. I hope it was a wonderful celebration for the whole family.
Also congrats with your 50th upload and first anniversary on TN.
The photo is very good, with wonderful details and DOF. I like the dreamy look of the primate and its glazy eyes.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3599 W: 143 N: 5697] (18625)
  • [2009-05-17 10:15]

Hi, dear-dear Anna.
Simply amazing post. First of all I want to wish love and happiness a newly-married couple (WS is stunning.). You are not only the remarkable photographer and kind person, but also happy mum. All the best for all you.

I also congratulate you on 50th post. Every your picture is the most expensive brilliance in TN collection. I am amazed with your skill and taste every time I watch your work. And your note may be the best here too (Only Loot can compete with you.) My heartfelt wishes.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-05-17 16:56]

Hi Anna,

Double Congratulations to you - on your 50th post and on the wedding of your son and new daughter. Two happy occasions. A wonderful shot of this Marmoset with the very beautiful eyes. That is quite an expression on his face. Excellent details and the colors of his fur are wonderful. I still can't get over those eyes!

Jane

hello Anna
a very beautiful portrait,wonderful shot and photo,my congratulating for your 50th post,
TFS
Nasos

Hi Anna,
Very interesting ... especially the eyes.
It is an excellent portrait work.Excellent in sharpness, details and natural colours.
Have a nice day,
Seyfi

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2174 W: 220 N: 4385] (14908)
  • [2009-05-18 4:49]

Hi Anna

and many congratulations for your son's wedding and for your 50th post! I take it you had some nice celebrating time :)
This is a lovely portrait of this cute Common Marmoset shown in a good light and with excellent details on its face and...hairy ears :) (sorry...had to mention those...they do stand out a bit :)))
I really like the colors in its eyes, too and they really act as wonderful focal point, making the viewer stare at them for quite a while.
Overall, a lovely photo and presentation.

Bravo, TFS and congrats again!
Horia

What a lovely close-up, Anna! Amazing details
and I can see one tooth of this little guy :o)
Nice expression captured and great framing.
Congratulations and TFS, my friend.

Warm regards,
Bruno

hello Anna
thanks
great sharpness with good composition
good details of the head
super
greeting lou

Hello Anna,
Double Congratulations to you - on your 50th post and on the wedding of your son. Candid portrait/shot with excellent close up of "one toothed" Cotton Tuff-Eared. TFS
Regards-Subhash

Ciao Anna, congratulations for your 50th post on TN, fantastic portrait of lovely creature with splendid eyes, great colors and excellent sharpness, I like a lot, very well done, ciao Silvio

hello Anna

congratulatulations to your 50th and congratulatulations
to the new married, félicitations au nouveaux mariés,

excellent portrait photo of this South African animal,
fine POV, excellent density of the colour tones,
superb focus on it with great sharpness and details,

TFS

Asbed

C O N R A T U L A T I O N S on your 50th post, my dear friend Anna!
This 50 is a treasure trove of some of the best shots we know on TN.
This is a splendid shot ! I love the perfectly detailed shot, and the very educating note!
I never knew such an animal existed!
Looking forward to many more such shots, Anna!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hello Anna
what a beautiful shot of this Common Marmoset, i like the great details on his fur and the superb colors, he has a nice face and i LOVE the expression in his eyes
very well done and have a good night
Jacqueline

Hi Anna!
Amazingly great and lovely capture of this cute Common Marmoset with neat details and from a nice POV .
The glances of this beauty are realy cute like a baby indeed.
TFS and cheers!
Have a nice day!

Bayram

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1163 W: 32 N: 1204] (3688)
  • [2009-05-20 1:18]

Hi Anna,
Congratulations on your 50th post.This is a wonderful one as the others.I liked sharpness,details,clarity and especially expression on face a lot.Excellent work again!
Thanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-05-20 13:43]

Hello Anna !
I'm a bit late, but in France we say "better later than never", so here I am - many congratulations for your 50th picture, and for your 1st birthday too. My best wishes also to the happy couple. As for the picture, it is an excellent one, full of wonderful details, and I like the expression of the monkey, with this one tooth sticking out of the mouth. Composition and POV are just perfect. Very well done !
Valérie.

Hey happy MIL! Congratulations!!!
I rejoice in your moment of hapiness, Anna. It is an experience of life-time which my wife and I had had seven years ago. We have only one child -- a son. I wouldn't know about you and Loot.
As a matter of fact, more the merrier :)!
And, before I forget, let me tell you that Werner and Naomi make a truly handsome couple. Thanks for showing us a picture from the occasion taken by Loot.
Also, convey my greetings and best wishes to the newly wedded couple and my congratulations to Loot too.
~
Coming to your get-back 50th picture, what struck me the most on the very first glance of it were the eyes of this cute little Marmoset. Technical excellence apart, it is the expression in those eyes that leaves me deeply moved. By virtue of that expression, the image impels you to perceive a human face and interpret that expression in terms of your own Gestalt. For me, these are the eyes of a deep thinker lost in the contemplations on the mysteries of existence.
[Will have to re-check Sarte's face for comparison :)].

All in all, it is a fantastic portrait of this little creature.
Thanks for sharing it and best regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 1399 W: 3 N: 30] (518)
  • [2009-05-21 13:16]

Merhaba Anna,
Congratulations on your 50th posting
great portrait of this cute marmoset
i like its pose, POV, colours and sharpness in your photo
TFS
regards
izler

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3212)
  • [2009-05-21 23:08]

Merhaba Anna!
I congratulate you for your 50th work .
This is a very special collection, thank you very much for sharing with us.
A great portrait of Common Marmoset taken with superb sharpness and splendid colours as the other photos.
I hope to see again in the new working.
Best regards.

Hüseyin

  • Great 
  • smitha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 323 W: 75 N: 1002] (3753)
  • [2009-05-22 19:45]

Dear Anna,
First of all CONGRATULATIONS to the beautiful couple. Werner looks very handsome and Naomi looks quite radiant.So you and Loot have become proud in - laws now. :)
Now coming to your picture, it is an amazing shot, Anna. I liked its expression captured here.Excellent sharpness and details in the fur. It's eyes look like two shining glass beads. Thank you for sharing this picture, Anna.
Regards,
Smitha.

Gracias por tus comentarios Anna.
Tu fotografía es realmente impresionante por el gran realismo que transmite, además de bien enfocada y con una luz al punto. Un excelente trabajo de un animal que no tengo la suerte de conocer. Una excelente y amplia explicación que es de agradecer.
Un abrazo y buen Domingo: Josep Ignasi.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF