Tech & Science dictionary
finger monkey
[fing-ger] [muhng-kee]
What does finger monkey mean?
Finger monkey is a common nickname for the pygmy marmoset, the smallest known species of monkey.
Where does finger monkey come from?
The pygmy marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea or Cebuella pygmaea) lives in the rainforests of South America, spanning parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru. They are active during the day and primarily eat, in addition to insects, gum, sap, resin, and other products exuded from trees.
The average length of a pygmy marmoset is about 13 centimeters, or just over five inches—and it’s this adorably small size that gives the finger monkey its popularity and nickname. Photographs of baby pygmy marmosets clinging to fingers helped cement the term finger monkey.
Finger monkeys are popular in the controversial exotic pet trade. Though the finger monkey isn’t endangered, the international pet trade may be a threat to the species. Some also feel that it is cruel to remove a non-domesticated animal like the pygmy marmoset from its natural habitat and its family, particularly at a young age. Ownership of monkeys is also illegal in some US states.
Examples of finger monkey
Who uses finger monkey?
Due to their size, finger monkeys are also known as pocket monkeys or thumb monkeys. When called finger monkeys rather than pygmy marmosets, the animals are usually being referred to in the context of pets or the pet trade.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of finger monkey like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of finger monkey that will help our users expand their word mastery.