Details
Saguinus oedipus
The cotton-top tamarin is a small northern Colombian primate with a bright white crest. By day, family groups move through the canopy looking for fruit and insects.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It is restricted to tropical forest in northwestern Colombia. Humid forest, dry forest, secondary growth, and edges are used, but connected canopy is essential for travel.
Length 21-26 cm; weight 350-450 g. A white crest from forehead to shoulders, a dark brown back, and reddish tones near the tail base make it distinctive.
Diurnal and highly social, it defends territories in family groups. High calls keep members in contact, and adults share vigilance and infant care.
An omnivore, it eats fruit, tree exudates, insects, and small prey. It searches branch tips with small hands and shifts with fruiting seasons.
Females often give birth to twins, and adult group members take turns carrying them. The mother nurses while helpers protect the young during travel.
It is Critically Endangered. Forest loss, fragmentation, past capture, and illegal trade have made it a major conservation focus.
