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Daily
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Cotton-Topped Tamarin |
| Scientific Name: |
Saguinus oedipus |
| Range: |
Columbia |
| Habitat: |
Understory of the rainforest |
| Natural Diet: |
Insects, ripe fruit, seeds, and nectar |
| Zoo Diet: |
Commercial primate biscuit, canned marmoset food, fruit, vegetables,
yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, nuts, mealworms and waxworms |
Physical
Characteristics: |
The body is 8-10 inches long and the tail is 13-16 inches long.
Cotton-topped tamarins weigh about a pound. They have long, white,
flowing fur on their head, hence the name “cotton-topped.” |
| Behavior: |
Cotton-topped tamarins live in troops ranging in size from 3-13.
They make twittering bird-like calls to each other as they move through
the trees. They may also make louder trills and shrieks when predators
are near, or if they are disputing about territories. |
| Reproduction: |
In each troop, only one male/female pair breeds. The gestation
period is four to five months. Four out of five births are twins. The
male is the primary caregiver. He carries the infants on his back,
returning them to the female when they need to nurse. |
| Notes: |
Cotton-topped tamarins are endangered. Currently there are more in
captivity than in the wild. |
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