COTTON TOP TAMARIN Saguinus oedipus Mammal Order Primate Description Head and body length is 7-8 in.,tail 10-11 in. Color: Crest of long white hairs from forehead to nape of neck that flow over the shoulders. The back is brown, where as the underparts, arms and legs are whitish to yellow. Rump and inner thighs reddish - orange; tail reddish - orange towards base, blackish towards tip. Range South America ( N.W. Columbia ). Status Endangered - C.I.T.E.S. I. Photo © Greg Neise

Ecology Habitat Diurnal and arboreal. Found chiefly in tropical rain forests, also gallery forests and forest patches in savannahs.   Niche Omnivorous: Feeds on insects, soft fruits, nectar, plant exudates, frogs, spiders, and small vertebrates. Life History They live alone or in groups of 2 - 19. 3 - 9 being most common. Females give birth to an average of 2 young after a gestation of 130-170 days. The father and other group members assist with parental care, giving the baby back to mom when it is time to nurse. Their longevity in the wild is not known, but 7 - 16 years is the expected captive life span. Special Adaptations Acute eyesight, hearing and smell aid in hunting and the detection of danger. Long tails help keep balance during climbing and jumping.