by Alex Correa
The Saguinus oedipus– also known as the ‘Cotton-Top Tamarin’ or the ‘Crested tamarin’ – is a species belonging to the Callitrichidae family living in southwest Colombia. This species can typically be found in secondary forests, as well as edges of tropical rainforests. However, this species is not restricted to just one habitat. The Cotton-Top Tamarin has also supposedly been spotted in wetland tropical forests, moist woodland forests, and dry thorn forest savannahs.
When fully grown, these monkeys typically only reach a weight of around 1 lb. They are easily identifiable and are known to be one of the smallest primates. They have a crest composed of long, white hairs surrounding their necks. They have gray or brown shoulders and backs, as well as white limbs. Their hands and feet are typically gray. The back of their thighs are typically a reddish-brown color. The base of their tails are also reddish-brown, but the rest of their tails are black, gray, or brown. They may look harmless, but they have small claws that are incredibly sharp. These claws allow them to climb trees with incredible strength and speed.
The Cotton-Top Tamarin is, naturally, a very social primate. They live in troops averaging about 3-9 members, but have been known to live in troops of up to 19 members. They are highly territorial and have been known to use scent to mark their territory. During conflict, they typically avoid getting physical, and instead opt to intimidate others through alternative methods. They are monogamous primates and split parental responsibilities. The mothers typically clean the infants while the fathers carry and groom them. They are omnivorous creatures and consume anything from miscellaneous fruits to bird eggs.
The Cotton-Top Tamarin is deemed critically endangered at this time. The biggest threat to their population is deforestation. Due to deforestation, many Cotton-Top Tamarins have had to relocate or struggle to live off of the remains of their former habitats, and have been spotted in isolated populations. They are also frequently trapped by animal collectors and sold.