Tamarin

Tamarins include more than 40 species that inhabit Central and South American forests. Emperor tamarins wear white mustaches that curl past the shoulders, while golden lion tamarins glow orange in Brazil’s coastal Atlantic Forest. Despite their bright looks, most weigh under one pound and can fit in a person’s hand. Claw-like nails, called tegulae, help them cling to vertical trunks as they leap between bromeliads and tangled vines.

Diets mix fruit, nectar, insects, small vertebrates, and gum. During the wet season, tamarins patrol flowering trees to lap nectar with long tongues, spreading pollen across branches. When fruit ripens, they swallow it whole and later drop seeds far from the parent tree. Some species nibble fungi or hunt lizards hiding in mossy bark. Their constant movement keeps them ahead of hawks and snakes that hunt in the same canopy.

Social groups usually consist of an adult female, one or two adult males, and their offspring. Tamarins often give birth to twins, and every member helps carry the babies. This cooperative system lets the mother regain strength quickly before the next breeding season. Groups defend territories with high whistles, scent marks, and tail flicks, but neighboring tamarins may form temporary alliances when food is abundant.

Many tamarin species are endangered because logging and agriculture fragment forests. Golden lion tamarin numbers once dropped below 200 individuals until reintroduction programs, rope bridges, and captive breeding efforts restored some habitat. Conservation organizations now work with farmers to plant corridors, install artificial nest boxes, and protect flowering trees that supply year-round food. Community education campaigns discourage capturing tamarins as pets and promote ecotourism that values living wildlife.