Cotton Top Tamarin Monkeys

By: Sophie Warner

ClassificationThe Cotton Top Tamarin Monkey weighs less than 1 lb. It is also known as the Pinché Tamarin.

Communication• The Cotton Top

Tamarin communicates to others by making bird- like sounds.

• When they get mad they from a big bulge on their head by lowering their forehead and then push their lips forward.

Habitat• This monkey is found

in very humid tropical forests and dry deciduous forests.

• It’s usually moving between the understory and the canopy, but it also likes to be on the ground of the forest.

Status• Since 1999 there

has been less than 2500 in the wild. Therefore they are an endangered species.

Gestation• The female usually

has her baby after 125 days.

• They usually have their baby between the beginning of March and the end of May.

Diet• The Cotton Top

Tamarin is and omnivore. In the wild, they eat fruits, insects, and tree sap. At the zoo, they eat fruits, vegetables, monkey biscuits, meal worms.

Length • The Cotton Top

Tamarins are usually 17 cm or about 6 in. long.

• Their tail is 25 cm or 10 in. long.

• Their fingernails are sickle-shaped and their toenails are flat-shaped.

Location

• The Cotton Top Tamarin Monkey is found in southeastern Costa Rica, to northwest Columbia. They’re usually found in dense vegetation with lots of vines to swing on.

Social Behavior • They’re usually

found in groups of 2 to 13 monkeys. They also usually don’t care if new monkeys join them. Everybody usually takes turns in feeding the babies. The father also usually carries and washes the baby.

Characteristics• Cotton Top

Tamarins sleep in trees and are active during the day; so that means that they sleep during the night.

• They can jump up to 3 meters from tree to tree and move very quick and jerky.

Predators• The Cotton Top

Tamarin are prey to some animals. They are hunted and eaten by some birds, snakes, and small cats.

• These animals have a very hard time to catch these because the monkeys are very quick.

Boa Constrictor

Golden Eagle

Ocelot

Random Facts• They like to eat frogs when they can catch them.

• Cotton Top Tamarins have claws, not nails.

• They groom each other.

• They travel in groups of around 6.

• They use scents and certain glands to mark their territory.

• Their tails are for balance, not for gripping trees.

Awesome facts

Cool Facts• Their communication sounds

like bird squeaks.

• At only 5 months old, a young can take care of themselves.

• They love to sleep in a clump of leaves or a tree hole.

Fun Facts• The female usually gives birth to 2

babies. It is very rare to only have 1 baby.

• They usually live up to 15 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.

• Babies are born with their eyes open.

• Some of their communication calls are too high- pitched for humans to hear.

• They are out and about during the day.

• Their tail is up between 1 ½ to 2 times their whole body length.

• Native people used to kill them for their soft flesh.

• Hello Mrs. Witthoft.

Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottontop_tamarin• http://www.brandywinezoo.org/cotton.html • http://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/mammals/cotton-toppe

d-tamarin

• http://www.zooschool.ecsd.net/cotton%20topped%20tamarin.htm

• http://www.zooschool.ecsd.net/cotton%20topped%20tamarin.htm

• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&biw=1004&bih=609&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=a+dad+cotton+top+tamarin+carrying+his+baby%5C&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

• http://www.sch.im/wlp/pages/cotton-top%20tamarin%202.htm

• http://www.saginawzoo.com/index.php/animals/107?task=view