Tamarin

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Tamarins [1] [2]
Tamarin portrait 2 edit3.jpg
Emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Callitrichidae
Genus: Saguinus
Hoffmannsegg, 1807
Type species
Saguinus ursulus
Species

22 species, see text

Synonyms
  • HapanellaGray, 1870
  • MarikinaLesson, 1840
  • MidasE. Geoffroy, 1812
  • MystaxGray, 1870
  • OedipomidusReichenbach, 1862
  • OedipusLesson, 1840
  • SeniocebusGray, 1870
  • TamarinGray, 1870

The tamarins are squirrel-sized New World monkeys from the family Callitrichidae in the genus Saguinus. They are the first offshoot in the Callitrichidae tree, and therefore are the sister group of a clade formed by the lion tamarins, Goeldi's monkeys and marmosets. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy and evolutionary history

Hershkovitz (1977) recognised ten species in the genus Saguinus, further divided into 33 morphotypes based on facial pelage. [4] A later classification into two clades was based on variations in dental measurements. [5] A taxonomic review (Rylands et al., 2016) showed the tamarins are a sister group to all other callitrichids, branching off 15–13 million years ago. Within this clade, six species groups are historically recognised, nigricollis, mystax, midas, inustus, bicolor and oedipus, five of which were shown to be valid with Sanguinus inustus placed within the midas group. The review noted that the smaller-bodied nigricollis group began diverging 11–8 million years ago, leading the authors to move them to a separate genus, Leontocebus (saddle-back tamarins). [6] [7] While a 2018 study proposed that Leontocebus does not have sufficient divergence from Saguinus to be in its own genus, and thus should be reclassified it as a subgenus of Saguinus, this proposal has since found significant traction. [8] The same study found the mystax group of tamarins to be distinct enough to be classified in the subgenus Tamarinus. [3] As of 2021 this proposal has not been universally accepted by primatologists. [9]

Taxonomic classification

Following the taxonomic review of tamarins by Rylands et al. (2016) and Garbino & Martins-Junior (2018), there are 22 species in the genus Saguinus with 19 subspecies. [6] [3] [10]

Description

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 (5.1 to 11.8 in) (plus a 25-to-44 cm-long (9.8-to-17.3 in) tail). They weigh from 348 to 575 grams (12.3 to 20.3 oz). [12] In captivity, red-bellied tamarins have been recorded living up to 20.5 years, [13] while cotton-top tamarins can live up to 23 years old. [14]

Distribution

Tamarins range from southern Central America through central South America, where they are found in northwestern Colombia, the Amazon basin, and the Guianas. [4]

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 are not fully weaned for another two to three months. They reach full maturity in their second year. Tamarins are almost exclusively polyandrous.

Cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) breed cooperatively in the wild. Cronin, Kurian, and Snowdon tested eight cottontop tamarins in a series of cooperative pulling experiments. Two monkeys were put on opposite sides of a transparent apparatus containing food. Only if both monkeys pulled a handle on their side of the apparatus towards themselves at the same time would food drop down for them to obtain. The results showed that tamarins pulled the handles at a lower rate when alone with the apparatus than when in the presence of a partner. Cronin, Kurian, and Snowdon concluded from this that cottontop tamarins have a good understanding of cooperation. They suggest that cottontop tamarins have developed cooperative behaviour as a cognitive adaptation. [15]

In some locations, saddle-back tamarins (subgenus Leontocebus) live sympatrically with tamarins of the subgenus Sanguinus, but the saddle-back tamarins typically occupy lower strata of the forest than do the Sanguinus species. [6] Saddle-back tamarins have longer and narrower hands than Sanguinus species, possibly adaption to differing foraging behavior, as saddle-back tamarins are more likely to search for insects that are hidden in knotholes, crevices, bromeliad tanks and leaf litter, while Sanguinus species are more likely to forage for insects that are exposed on surfaces such as leaves or branches. [6] This differentiation in lifestyles was why both were formerly considered different genera. [6]

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. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callitrichidae</span> Family of New World monkeys

The Callitrichidae are a family of New World monkeys, including marmosets, tamarins, and lion tamarins. At times, this group of animals has been regarded as a subfamily, called the Callitrichinae, of the family Cebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Geoffroy's tamarin, also known as the Panamanian, red-crested or rufous-naped tamarin, is a tamarin, a type of small monkey, found in Panama and Colombia. It is predominantly black and white, with a reddish nape. Diurnal, Geoffroy's tamarin spends most of its time in trees, but does come down to the ground occasionally. It lives in groups that most often number between three and five individuals, and generally include one or more adults of each sex. It eats a variety of foods, including insects, plant exudates, fruits and other plant parts. Insects and fruits account for the majority of its diet, but exudates are also important. But since its teeth are not adapted for gouging trees to get to the sap, it can only eat exudates when they are easily available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton-top tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The cotton-top tamarin is a small New World monkey weighing less than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). This New World monkey can live up to 24 years, but most of them die by 13 years. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-lipped tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The white-lipped tamarin, also known as the red-bellied tamarin, is a tamarin which lives in the Amazon area of Brazil and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emperor tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The emperor tamarin is a species of tamarin monkey allegedly named for its resemblance to the German emperor Wilhelm II. It lives in the north Brazilian states of Acre and Amazonas and the southwest Amazon Basin, in east Peru, north Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-handed tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The golden-handed tamarin, also known as the red-handed tamarin or Midas tamarin, is a New World monkey belonging to the family Callitrichidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mottle-faced tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The mottle-faced tamarin is a species of tamarin from South America. It is found in Brazil and Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martins's tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Martins's tamarin or Martin's ochraceous bare-face tamarin, is a species of tamarin endemic to Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The black tamarin or western black-handed tamarin is a species of tamarin endemic to Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown-mantled tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The brown-mantled tamarin, also known as Spix's saddle-back tamarin, is a species of saddle-back tamarin. This New World monkey is found in the Southern American countries of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru. This omnivorous member of the Callitrichidae family is usually found in smaller groups ranging between 4 and 15 individuals. This species communicates vocally and largely rely their olfactory system. The brown-mantled tamarin is considered as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, despite a decreasing population and being threatened by poaching, habitat loss and capture for the illegal pet trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-mantled tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The golden-mantled tamarin is a tamarin species from South America. It is found in Ecuador and Peru, specifically in the upper Amazon (lowland), east of the Andes in Ecuador, and Northeast Peru; between the Rio Curaray and Rio Napo in Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-mantled tamarin</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The white-mantled tamarin, Leontocebus weddelli melanoleucus, is a subspecies of Weddell's saddle-back tamarin, a tamarin monkey from South America. It is found in Brazil, between Rio Jurua and Rio Tarauacá.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-capped tamarin</span> Species of mammal

The red-capped tamarin, is subspecies of moustached tamarin from South America. They are found in Brazil, on the eastern margin of the Tefé and Coari rivers. Previously recognised as a separate species, Saguinus pilatus, the red-capped tamarin was demoted to subspecies status by a taxonomic review by Rylands et al., (2016).

<i>Mico</i> (genus) Genus of New World monkeys

Mico is a genus of New World monkeys of the family Callitrichidae, the family containing marmosets and tamarins. The genus was formerly considered a subgenus of the genus Callithrix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddle-back tamarin</span> Genus of New World monkeys

The saddle-back tamarins are squirrel-sized New World monkeys from the family Callitrichidae in the genus or subgenus Leontocebus. They were split from the tamarin genus Saguinus based on genetic data and on the fact that saddle-back tamarins are sympatric with members of Saguinus to a greater extent than would be expected from two members of the same genus. However, this argument can be circular, as several other mammals show sympatry among congeneric species, such as armadillos, spotted cats, and fruit-eating bats. Some authors still consider Leontocebus to be a subgenus of Saguinus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruz Lima's saddle-back tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Cruz Lima's saddle-back tamarin is a species of saddle-back tamarin, a type of small monkey from South America. Cruz Lima's saddle-back tamarin was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the brown-mantled tamarin, L. fuscicollis. It lives in Brazil in the area near the Inauini River. Its fur is mostly reddish orange, with a black tail and white eyebrows. The IUCN rates it as least concern from a conservation standpoint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andean saddle-back tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

The Andean saddle-back tamarin is a species of saddle-back tamarin, a type of small monkey from South America. The Andean saddle-back tamarin was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the brown-mantled tamarin, L. fuscicollis. It is closely related to Illiger's saddle-back tamarin. It is endemic to Peru and its type locality is in the Department of Huanuco, Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's saddle-back tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Geoffroy's saddle-back tamarin is a species of saddle-back tamarin, a type of small monkey from South America. Geoffroy's saddle-back tamarin was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the brown-mantled tamarin, L. fuscicollis. It lives in Loreto, Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weddell's saddle-back tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Weddell's saddle-back tamarin is a species of saddle-back tamarin, a type of small monkey from South America. Weddell's saddle-back tamarin was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the brown-mantled tamarin, L. fuscicollis. It lives in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, with the type locality being in Bolivia.

References

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  16. Miller, Lynne (2002). Eat or be Eaten. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-01104-4.