A family of dwarf tree monkeys of the Amazon basin and other rainforests of South America. As of writing, there are 42 known species in the family and they are a very interesting and colorful family. In fact, there are quite a few teeny-weeny monkeys in the same primate family (the Callitrichidae family) that includes all the marmosets and tamarins. So there may be a smaller monkey, some pygmy dwarf teeny tiny monkey, still out there in the dense Amazon forest waiting to be found (or maybe they are content to be unknown, out there scurrying and chit-chatting in the rainforest). This species is considered the world's second smallest monkey and only weighs 5.5-6.5 ounces (150-185 g), not much bigger than the pygmy marmoset. A new dwarf monkey, the Roosmalens' dwarf marmoset was found deep in the Amazon only about 10 years ago. That doesn't necessarily mean it is the smallest monkey in the world because maybe there are still smaller finger monkeys to be found! At least, we like to think so.
This species, the pygmy marmoset, weighing on average as adults a measly 3.5 ounces (100 g) and measuring only around 5 inches (127 mm) not counting the tail, is truly the world's smallest known monkey. Mostly, however, what has popularized the idea of a finger monkey are some images that have come out from zoos and rescue centers of baby pygmy marmosets clinging to the fingers of caretakers. The name "finger monkey" or sometimes "pocket monkey" isn't exactly a scientific name or even a common name for a particular monkey, it's just a monkey that can cling to somebody's finger or fit in a shirt pocket.
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