FaunaHub
CRCritically EndangeredPartial review

Cotton-top Tamarin

Saguinus oedipus

Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), a tiny monkey with a white crest.

Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus).

Image: Quartl, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
CR · Critically Endangered
Animal group
Mammals
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The cotton-top tamarin is a tiny monkey with a shock of white hair on its head, found only in Colombia. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.

It lives in small family groups and is one of the smallest primates.

Range & habitat

A small area of tropical forest in north-western Colombia.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Deforestation
  • Past capture for the pet trade and research
  • A very small range

Why it matters

A tiny, charismatic primate with a very small range, the cotton-top tamarin is a flagship for protecting the dwindling tropical forests of north-western Colombia.

Gallery

A cotton-top tamarin with its shock of white head hair.

Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus).

Image: Michael Gäbler, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Cotton-top Tamarin

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the cotton-top tamarin get its name?
From the long, flowing crest of white hair on its head, which resembles a tuft of cotton — a striking feature on a monkey that weighs only a few hundred grams.
Why is the cotton-top tamarin Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite deforestation within its small Colombian range and a history of capture. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.

Last updated: