Cotton-top tamarin

Description

A thick white mane surrounds its head. They have adapted morphologically to live and feed in the highest parts of the trees. They have a sharp nails on their fingers and a long tail that helps them to move agilely and find food. They live in groups of up to 10 individuals and are constantly moving. 

Ethology

It is a diurnal animal that forms familial social groups, which move in search of food. The group is led by a dominant female, who is the breeder and a male breeder. They never sleep in the same place one night after the other, to avoid being attacked by their predators. One of the members of the group remains vigilant and will make alerting noises if it detects any danger. 

Interesting facts

They are severely at risk of extinction due to the destruction of their habitat, illegal trafficking and their use in experiments. The population trend is downward, having dropped 80% in the last 20 years. Significant conservation programs are currently being implemented.