Cotton-top tamarin
Saguinus oedipus
The cotton-top tamarins belong to the marmoset family, which are characterized by the claws on their hands, in contrast to the flat fingernails of other primates. Their back and tail are brown to black in color, while their belly and legs are white. The most striking feature, however, is the characteristic white hair on its head.
Cotton-top tamarins live in groups of 2 to 15 animals. Within these groups, there is a strict hierarchical system in which a dominant pair takes the lead. It is noteworthy that the dominant female leads the group. The groups are territorial and require an area of around 8 hectares in their natural habitat to cover their food requirements. Male cotton-top tamarins often mark their territory with loud calls, while females mark branches with scents from their genital glands. Responsibility for offspring lies exclusively with the dominant pair. The young are mainly carried on the back by the father, while other group members also help with rearing. The young are mainly brought to the mother for suckling.
As with other marmosets, the birth of multiple offspring is the rule in cotton-top tamarins. This is in contrast to other primates such as humans. The dominant female usually gives birth to fraternal twins twice a year. What is particularly fascinating is that the twins exchange stem cells during pregnancy, turning them into so-called chimeras.
| Classification | New World monkeys, family of marmosets (Callitrichidae, ca. 50 species), genus Saguinus (24 species) | |
| Habitat | Forests and scrubland in northwestern Colombia | |
| Behaviour | Diurnal tree dwellers, territorial | |
| Social structure | Groups of 2 - 15 adults, including a dominant pair, which is responsible for the offspring | |
| Diet | Fruits, buds, leaves, tree exudates, nectar, insects, tree frogs and lizards | |
| Weight | Approx. 400 g | |
| Body length | Approx. 23 cm | |
| Tail length | Approx. 37 cm | |
| Gestation period | Approx. 183 days | |
| Litter size | Twice a year Twins | |
| Sexually mature | Female at 18 months, male at two years | |
| Life expectancy | In zoos over 20 years, in natural habitat approx. 10 years | |
| Use | In the 1960s and 70s, tens of thousands of cotton-top tamarins were captured and exported as laboratory animals for animal experiments in cancer research. This is prohibited today. | |
| Current population | 2000 adult animals in their natural habitat | |
| At Zurich Zoo since | 2024 |
Distribution
