Head to head
Pied Tamarin vs Cotton-Top Tamarin
Pied Tamarin
VS Cotton-Top Tamarin
The pied tamarin and cotton-top tamarin are two rare tamarins in the genus Saguinus, both living in cooperative family groups in small remaining areas of forest in South America.
| Pied Tamarin | Cotton-Top Tamarin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Saguinus bicolor | Saguinus oedipus |
| Head | Dark, bare skin on its face and head | A dramatic crest of long, wispy white hair extending from the forehead |
| Range | Forest fragments and parks around the city of Manaus in the Brazilian Amazon | Forest in a small part of northwestern Colombia |
| Diet | Fruit, flowers, nectar, tree gum, and insects | Fruit, insects, and plant exudates |
| Family life | Lives in small family groups in which several members help to carry and raise the young | Relies on cooperative breeding, in which older siblings and other group members help carry and care for infants |
| Calls | Not specifically documented | Uses an unusually complex system of vocal calls about food, danger, and social context |
| Main pressures | Expansion of the city, farming, and a related tamarin spreading into its range | Habitat loss, and historical capture for biomedical research and the pet trade |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population |
Pied Tamarin vs Cotton-Top Tamarin: common questions
Which tamarin has the white crest?
The cotton-top tamarin, which has a dramatic crest of long, wispy white hair extending from its forehead.
Which tamarin lives near a big city?
The pied tamarin, which survives in forest fragments, parks, and gardens around Manaus.
Where do the pied and cotton-top tamarins live?
The pied tamarin lives around Manaus in the Brazilian Amazon, while the cotton-top tamarin lives only in a small part of northwestern Colombia.