Cotton-Top Tamarin

Tamarins are tiny monkeys from Central and South America. Cotton-top tamarins live in a small portion of Colombia. They get their name from the flowing white hair on their heads. They also have long tails as long as their bodies! Their small hands with claws, rather than nails like most primates, gives them the upper hand for life in the trees and eating mostly insects. Yum!

Tamarins live in social family groups. Only one female in the group reproduces, giving birth to non-identical twins each time after 5 months gestation. The infant is totally depending on mom for about 2 weeks. The male and other group members feed the female and tend to the infants as they grow. Tamarins seek food during the day and sleep in trees at night. They use calls and scent marking to stay together as a group when on the move around their territory.