Tamarin

This article is about the New World monkey. For the tropical plant, see Tamarind. For other uses, see Tamarin (disambiguation).
Tamarins[1][2]
Emperor tamarin, a New World monkey
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Callitrichidae
Genus: Saguinus
Hoffmannsegg, 1807
Type species
Saguinas ursula
Hoffmannsegg, 1807
Species

18 species, see text

Synonyms
  • Hapanella Gray, 1870
  • Leontocebus Wagner, 1840
  • Marikina Lesson, 1840
  • Midas E. Geoffroy, 1812
  • Mystax Gray, 1870
  • Oedipomidus Reichenbach, 1862
  • Oedipus Lesson, 1840
  • Seniocebus Gray, 1870
  • Tamarin Gray, 1870
  • Tamarinus Trouessart, 1904

The tamarins are squirrel-sized New World monkeys from the family Callitrichidae in the genus Saguinus. They are closely related to the lion tamarins in the genus Leontopithecus.

Description

Different tamarin species vary considerably in appearance, ranging from nearly all black through mixtures of black, brown and white. Mustache-like facial hairs are typical for many species. Their body size ranges from 13 to 30 cm (plus a 25 to 44 cm long tail) and they weigh from 220 to 900 grams. Tamarins differ from marmosets primarily in having lower canine teeth that are clearly longer than the incisors. In captivity, tamarins can live for up to 18 years.

Distribution

Tamarins range from southern Central America through central South America, where they are found in northwestern Colombia, the Amazon basin, and the Guianas.

Behavior and reproduction

Tamarins are inhabitants of tropical rainforests and open forest areas. They are diurnal and arboreal, and run and jump quickly through the trees. Tamarins live together in groups of up to 40 members consisting of one or more families. More frequently, though, groups are composed of just three to nine members.

Tamarins are omnivores, eating fruits and other plant parts as well as spiders, insects, small vertebrates and bird eggs.

Gestation is typically 140 days, and births are normally twins. The adult males, subadults, and juveniles in the group assist with caring for the young, bringing them to their mother to nurse. After approximately one month the young begin to eat solid food, although they aren't fully weaned for another two to three months. They reach full maturity in their second year. Tamarins are almost exclusively polyandrous.

Predators

While tamarins spend much of their day foraging, they must be on high alert for aerial and terrestrial predators. Due to their small size compared to other primates, they are an easy target for predatory birds, snakes, and mammals.[3]

Taxonomy

The first classification of Saguinus tamarins contained ten different species, further divided into 33 morphotypes based on facial pelage.[4] A later classification into two clades was based on variations in dental measurements.[5] The latest classification postulates fifteen species with no subspecies.[6]

Classification

References[3]

  1. ↑ Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 133–136. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
  2. ↑ Rylands AB, Mittermeier RA (2009). "The Diversity of the New World Primates (Platyrrhini): An Annotated Taxonomy". In Garber PA, Estrada A, Bicca-Marques JC, Heymann EW, Strier KB. South American Primates: Comparative Perspectives in the Study of Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Springer. pp. 21–54. ISBN 978-0-387-78704-6.
  3. 1 2 Miller, Lynne (2002). Eat or be Eaten. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-01104-3.
  4. ↑ Hershkovitz, Philip (1977). Living New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini) : With an Introduction to Primates (1st ed.). University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226327884.
  5. ↑ Natori, M.; Hanihara, T. (1992). "Variations in dental measurements between Saguinus species and their systematic relationships". Folia Primatologica. 58 (2): 84–92.
  6. ↑ Ferrari, Stephen; Silva, Suleima. "Notes on the reproduction, behaviour and diet of Sanguinus niger (Primates: Callitrichidae) in a forest remnant at the National Primate Centre, Ananindeua, Pará". Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  7. ↑ Gregorin, R.; De Vivo, M. 2013: Revalidation of Saguinus ursula Hoffmannsegg (Primates: Cebidae: Callitrichinae). Zootaxa, 3721(2): 172-182. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3721.2.4

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Tamarin
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