ExploreMammals

cotton-top tamarin

Saguinus oedipus

Cotton-top tamarins are tiny monkeys with fluffy white hair on their heads. They live in groups and love to swing through the trees in their forest homes.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The cotton-top tamarin has a distinctive long white crest of hair from its forehead to its shoulders, resembling a cotton ball. Its back is reddish-brown, while its underside, arms, and legs are white or yellowish. It also has a long, non-prehensile tail that is black.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderPrimatesFamilyCallitrichidaeGenusSaguinus
cotton-top tamarin
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cotton-top tamarin

Category

Mammals

Rarity

Rare

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Instead of nails, cotton-tops have sharp claws for gripping branches like a squirrel!

Most cotton-top tamarin moms usually give birth to twins, a unique trait for monkeys!

These tiny monkeys help grow new forests by spreading fruit seeds everywhere they go!

They use over 38 different sounds to 'talk' to each other, like a secret monkey language!

Special abilities

Ability

Scent Messages

cotton-top tamarin can leave scent markers on branches, because special glands help them communicate territory boundaries to other groups.

Ability

Tree Acrobatics

cotton-top tamarin can rapidly leap and climb through trees, because their small size and sharp claws help them escape quickly.

Ability

Quick Snack Grab

cotton-top tamarin can quickly snatch insects from leaves, because their agile fingers and sharp eyesight help them catch speedy prey.

Measurements & details

Length
17-28 cm
Weight
0.4-0.5 kg
Lifespan
13-24 years
Top Speed
25 km/h
Litter Size
1-3
Gestation
183 days

Diet & Feeding

Cotton-top tamarins are omnivores, munching on fruits, insects, and tree sap from the rainforest!

Age differences: Young tamarins start with mothers' milk and gradually learn to forage for solid foods.

Primary Foods

  • Fruits
  • Insects
  • Tree Sap
  • Nectar
  • Small Lizards
  • Bird Eggs

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Powerful raptor that hunts tamarins from above the canopy.

eaten by

Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor

Constricting snake preying on tamarins on the forest floor.

depends on

Kapok tree

Ceiba pentandra

Provides fruits, insects, and shelter high in the canopy.

eats

Field Cricket

Gryllus assimilis

Consumes these common insects as a protein source.

Traits

Also known as

Cotton-top Tamarin MonkeyTamarin

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is cotton-top tamarin?

17-28 cm

How much does cotton-top tamarin weigh?

0.4-0.5 kg

How long does cotton-top tamarin live?

13-24 years

How fast can cotton-top tamarin move?

25 km/h

What does cotton-top tamarin eat?

Cotton-top tamarins are omnivores, munching on fruits, insects, and tree sap from the rainforest!

Where is cotton-top tamarin usually found?

Forests

How does cotton-top tamarin hunt?

Foraging

How many babies does cotton-top tamarin usually have?

1-3

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