Cotton-top tamarin - side view, Uraba, Colombia
A wonderful surprise on our first hike in Uraba. Restricted to a small range in the northeast of Colombia, the Cotton-top tamarin is one of the most endangered primates in the world, with a mere 2,000 individuals remaining in the wild. They have been extensively studied for their advanced behavior in cooperation, spite and communication.
Upon seeing them, they did not flee. Instead, they tried to chase us away using loud vocalizations, and trying to reach a position where they can defecate on our heads, a common strategy for many primates.
The cotton-top tamarin is a small New World monkey weighing less than 0.5 kg. One of the smallest primates, the cotton-top tamarin is easily recognized by the long, white sagittal crest extending from its forehead to its shoulders. The species is found in tropical forest edges and secondary forests in northwestern Colombia, where it is arboreal and diurnal. Its diet includes insects and plant exudates, and it is an important seed disperser in the tropical ecosystem.
