cotton-top tamarin
Also known as Saguinus oedipus, cottontop tamarin, cotton-headed tamarin
species of mammal
Species
Maximum longevity: 26.2 years (captivity) Observations: One 26.2 year old animal was still alive in captivity (Richard Weigl 2005). Amyloid-beta protein plaque deposits typical of Alzheimer's disease, but not neurofibrillary tangles, were observed in the brains of animals over 12 years of age, suggesting these animals may develop early Alzheimer's disease pathology (Lemere et al. 2008).
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The cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) is a small New World monkey weighing less than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). One of the smallest primates, the cotton-top tamarin is easily recognized by the long, white sagittal crest extending from its forehead to its shoulders. The species is found in tropical forest edges and secondary forests in northwestern Colombia, where it is arboreal and diurnal. Its diet includes insects and plant exudates, and it is an important seed disperser in the tropical ecosystem.
The cotton-top tamarin displays a wide variety of social behaviors. In particular, groups form a clear dominance hierarchy where only dominant pairs breed. The female normally gives birth to twins and uses pheromones to prevent other females in the group from breeding. These tamarins have been extensively studied for their high level of cooperative care, as well as altruistic and spiteful behaviors. Communication between cotton-top tamarins is sophisticated and shows evidence of simple grammatical structure.
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Animal taxa named by Carl LinnaeusCritically endangered animalsCritically endangered biota of South AmericaEndemic fauna of ColombiaFauna listed on CITES Appendix IIUCN Red List critically endangered speciesMammals described in 1758Mammals of ColombiaMammals of the CaribbeanSaguinusTaxonbars with automatically added original combinations