Cotton Top Tamarin:
UK Status: Non resident, though is found in
zoos, wildlife parks and tropical houses in the UK.
Habitat:
This small monkey is exclusive to Columbia, ninety eight percent of it's
habitat has been destroyed, probably by cultivation. It is now
restricted to the south east, between the Cauca and Magdelena rivers,
and near the Atlantic Coast to the north, and to the west of the Atrato
river. It is mainly a resident species of primary and secondary
dry and damp forest or jungle.
Breeding:
Only the leaders of the group breed, subordinate female members of the
group are suppressed from breeding, by hormones released by the dominant
female. This sometimes doesn't always work, and occasionally sub
ordinate females become pregnant. If a sub ordinate female is pregnant
at the same time as the dominant female, only one of the two will give
birth. Dominant females usually give birth to non identical twins.
Comment:
These monkeys eat fruit, seeds, invertibrates and small animals
including amphibians. This monkey is preyed upon by raptors, weasels,
badgers and some larger animals.