Cotton Top Tamarin

Cotton Top Tamarin

Scientific name: Saguinus Oedipus

 

The cotton top tamarin has a small body which is covered in thick fur. They are so-called ‘cotton topped’ because of the long white hair which flows like a mane from their heads and around their face.

Tamarins are excellent climbers. The claws on their fingers and toes allow them to climb trees with ease. They also use their long tails to help them balance.

Tamarins live in social groups of between 3 to 13 individuals. The group rely on one another for survival and can be very territorial if they come into contact with other groups. Tamarins scent mark their home ranges and will confront other groups of tamarins who come too close by making loud calls and fluffing up their fur to intimidate them.

Cotton top tamarins usually give birth to twins. The young are born helpless and so are carried everywhere for the first few weeks. The entire social group share responsibility for the care of new-born tamarins.

Critically Endangered (Inc. Bar)
  1. At Noah's Ark...

    We have 2 Cotton Top Tamarin called Merry and Pippin.

  2. We live...

    Next to the Ark Arena and the Ruffed Lemur enclosure.

  1. Size Fact

    Cotton top tamarins usually weigh between 300-450g.

  2. Food Fact

    Tamarins are omnivores. In the wild, they mostly eat fruit, insects, vegetation, small vertebrates and bird eggs.

  3. Fun Fact

    There can be more than one adult female in a social group but only one female per group actually breeds.

Maze Drone 1

Adopt Me

You can support our conservation efforts and help with the costs of keeping rare and wonderful zoo animals by adopting a Tamarin. Adopt a Tamarin for yourself or as a gift.

Adopt me now

You might also like...

Maze Drone 1

Sign Up to the newsletter