Cotton-top Tamarinワタボウシタマリン

Species Data

Classification

Primates / Callitrichidae Source

Distribution

The cotton-top tamarin is restricted to a small area of northwestern Colombia, bounded by the Cauca and Magdalena rivers to the south and east, the Atlantic coast to the north, and the Atrato River to the west. Source

Did You Know?

• The species is named for the long crest of white hair flowing from its forehead to its shoulders, which in German gave rise to the nickname 'Lisztaffe' (Liszt monkey), after the composer's distinctive hairstyle. Source
• Before CITES protection began in 1976, as many as 40,000 cotton-top tamarins were captured for biomedical research. Source
• The lowland forest it depends on has been reduced to just 5% of its historical extent, and the species is listed among the world's 25 most endangered primates. Source

FAQ

Why is the cotton-top tamarin critically endangered?

The lowland forest it depends on in northwestern Colombia has been reduced to about 5% of its historical range through deforestation, and the species was also heavily captured for biomedical research before CITES protection began in 1976. The IUCN now estimates around 6,000 individuals remain in the wild. Source

Where do cotton-top tamarins live?

They are endemic to a restricted area of northwestern Colombia, bounded by the Cauca and Magdalena rivers, the Atlantic coast, and the Atrato River. Source

What does a cotton-top tamarin eat?

Its diet is roughly split between fruit (about 40%) and animal matter such as insects (about 40%), with plant exudates and occasional small reptiles or amphibians making up the rest. Source