Cotton-top Tamarin: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Monkeys and Lemurs · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. A cotton-top tamarin weighs only 432 g on average, less than half a kilogram.
2. A long crest of white hair runs from its forehead to the back of its neck and spills over its shoulders.
3. Cotton-top tamarins breed cooperatively: subordinate adults help raise the dominant pair's young.
4. Carrying babies is hard work: some male tamarins lose up to 10-11 % of their body weight doing it.
5. Fruit makes up about 40 % of a cotton-top tamarin's diet, and animal food such as insects another 40 %.

The quiz

1. How much does a cotton-top tamarin weigh on average?

• 43 g
• 432 g (correct)
• 4.3 kg
• 43 kg

It weighs an average of 432 g.

2. What color are the hairs of its crest?

• Orange
• Black
• Grey
• White (correct)

Its long crest is made of white hairs.

3. Who helps raise the dominant pair's young?

• Subordinate adults of the group (correct)
• Neighbouring groups
• Only the grandparents
• Nobody, the pair is alone

Subordinate adults help raise the dominant pair's young.

4. How much body weight can some male tamarins lose while carrying infants?

• Up to 1-2 %
• Up to 25-30 %
• Up to 10-11 % (correct)
• Up to 50 %

Some males lose up to 10-11 % of their body weight carrying infants.

5. What share of a cotton-top tamarin's diet is fruit?

• 4 %
• 40 % (correct)
• 14 %
• 80 %

Fruit makes up about 40 % of its diet, and animal food another 40 %.

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