Brown-Mantled Tamarin
Saguinus fuscicollis
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
The brown-mantled tamarin, also called the saddleback tamarin, lives in South America to the east of the Andes Mountains. The species is found in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. They occupy a region called the Amazon Basin, which provides the Amazon River with most of its water. Most of the basin is made up of tropical rainforest, which is consistently hot and humid aside from rare cold snaps during the winter.
There are eleven recognized subspecies of the brown-mantled tamarin, which are mostly separated based on geography as well as facial differences.
The brown-mantled tamarin, also called the saddleback tamarin, lives in South America to the east of the Andes Mountains. The species is found in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. They occupy a region called the Amazon Basin, which provides the Amazon River with most of its water. Most of the basin is made up of tropical rainforest, which is consistently hot and humid aside from rare cold snaps during the winter.
There are eleven recognized subspecies of the brown-mantled tamarin, which are mostly separated based on geography as well as facial differences.
Brown-mantled tamarin geographic range. Map credit: Oona Räisänen & IUCN
Size, Weight, and Lifespan
Brown-mantled tamarins are relatively small compared to other tamarins. They have an average head-to-toe body length of 9 in (23 cm) and a tail length of about 12–14 in (30–35 cm). Individuals typically weigh around 13 oz (375 g). There is no significant difference in weight and size between genders. These tamarins can live to be up to 11 years old in the wild. Appearance
Brown-mantled tamarins are distinct for the saddle-shaped agouti patch of fur on their back framed by brown fur on their neck, sides, arms, and legs. “Agouti” refers to an alternating color pattern of light and dark fur that is common in many animals. Their head is covered with black fur, except for their face, which changes between subspecies. Some subspecies have white skin on their face while other have darker skin. Some have noticeable whiskers while others do not. |
What Does It Mean?Agonistic:
Of, relating to, or being aggressive or defensive social interaction (such as fighting, fleeing, or submitting) between individuals usually of the same species. Alloparent: An individual other than the biological parent of an offspring that performs the functions of a parent (as by temporarily caring for an infant). Anogenital: Relating to the anus and genital region. Arboreal: Physically adapted to living primarily or exclusively in trees. Ecology: The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. Family: A taxonomic group of one or more genera, especially sharing a common attribute. Polyandry: A pattern of mating in which a female animal has more than one male mate. |
Diet
These tamarins mostly eat fruits and insects. Brown-mantled tamarins also enjoy eating tree gum, but lack the necessary dental structure to gouge holes in trees. Therefore, they will wait for pygmy marmosets to gouge a hole and stimulate the gum flow and then take over the hole from the smaller monkey.
These tamarins mostly eat fruits and insects. Brown-mantled tamarins also enjoy eating tree gum, but lack the necessary dental structure to gouge holes in trees. Therefore, they will wait for pygmy marmosets to gouge a hole and stimulate the gum flow and then take over the hole from the smaller monkey.
Photo credit: D. Gordon E. Robertson/Creative Commons
Behavior and Lifestyle
Brown-mantled tamarins are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of the day in the lower strata of the forest (under 36 ft or 11 m).
Brown-mantled tamarins are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of the day in the lower strata of the forest (under 36 ft or 11 m).
Daily Life and Group Dynamics
Although their activities change with the seasons, brown-mantled tamarins generally spend equal parts of the day foraging, traveling, and resting.
Groups of brown-mantled tamarins are usually made up of 3–9 individuals including 1–3 males, 1–2 females, and their offspring. Group members are exceptionally friendly with each other; researchers have observed food sharing, alloparenting, frequent grooming, and very few agonistic interactions.
Although their activities change with the seasons, brown-mantled tamarins generally spend equal parts of the day foraging, traveling, and resting.
Groups of brown-mantled tamarins are usually made up of 3–9 individuals including 1–3 males, 1–2 females, and their offspring. Group members are exceptionally friendly with each other; researchers have observed food sharing, alloparenting, frequent grooming, and very few agonistic interactions.
Photo credit: Miguelrangeljr/Creative Commons
Communication
Brown-mantled tamarins are mostly quiet, limiting their vocalizations to contact calls while foraging and alarm calls when predators are spotted. Members of the species frequently rub their anogenital region against trees to share information with other monkeys. As pregnant tamarins get closer to giving birth, they will increase scent marking, most likely so other group members are ready to help care for the newborn.
Brown-mantled tamarins are mostly quiet, limiting their vocalizations to contact calls while foraging and alarm calls when predators are spotted. Members of the species frequently rub their anogenital region against trees to share information with other monkeys. As pregnant tamarins get closer to giving birth, they will increase scent marking, most likely so other group members are ready to help care for the newborn.
Reproduction and Family
Brown-mantled tamarins are notable for their polyandrous mating system. Two or three males mate with a single dominant female and then help raise the offspring regardless of who the father is. Polyandry is the rarest mating system in the animal kingdom. It is only practiced by a few bird, insect, and fish species, and is sometimes practiced by a few primate and marsupial species. As far as we know, brown-mantled tamarins may be the only mammal that is exclusively polyandrous.
These tamarins mate year-round, but their peak mating season occurs between July and October, with mothers giving birth 5 months later between December and March. Like all members of the family Callitrichidae (tamarins and marmosets), brown-mantled tamarins usually give birth to twins. These babies are carried by their mother or another group member for about 3 months before they become more independent.
Individuals reach sexual maturity at about 15 months of age, but do not successfully mate until about 32 months of age.
Brown-mantled tamarins are notable for their polyandrous mating system. Two or three males mate with a single dominant female and then help raise the offspring regardless of who the father is. Polyandry is the rarest mating system in the animal kingdom. It is only practiced by a few bird, insect, and fish species, and is sometimes practiced by a few primate and marsupial species. As far as we know, brown-mantled tamarins may be the only mammal that is exclusively polyandrous.
These tamarins mate year-round, but their peak mating season occurs between July and October, with mothers giving birth 5 months later between December and March. Like all members of the family Callitrichidae (tamarins and marmosets), brown-mantled tamarins usually give birth to twins. These babies are carried by their mother or another group member for about 3 months before they become more independent.
Individuals reach sexual maturity at about 15 months of age, but do not successfully mate until about 32 months of age.
Photo credit: Tomaz Nascimento de Melo/Creative Commons
Ecological Role
The brown-mantled tamarin has often been observed forming temporary associations with other species such as the black-chested mustached tamarin and the red-bellied tamarin. These mixed groupings allow all of the members to forage more while others watch out for predators.
In addition to their raiding of marmoset gum holes, brown-mantled tamarins also regularly compete with squirrel monkeys for resources. These tamarins do everything they can to avoid contacting capuchin monkeys, leading some researchers to think they may be predators, but this is only a suspicion.
Known predators of the brown-mantled tamarin include the various eagles and snakes of the Amazon rainforest.
The brown-mantled tamarin has often been observed forming temporary associations with other species such as the black-chested mustached tamarin and the red-bellied tamarin. These mixed groupings allow all of the members to forage more while others watch out for predators.
In addition to their raiding of marmoset gum holes, brown-mantled tamarins also regularly compete with squirrel monkeys for resources. These tamarins do everything they can to avoid contacting capuchin monkeys, leading some researchers to think they may be predators, but this is only a suspicion.
Known predators of the brown-mantled tamarin include the various eagles and snakes of the Amazon rainforest.
Conservation Status and Threats
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature categorizes the brown-mantled tamarin as Least Concern (IUCN, 2008), stating that although the population is decreasing, the species is common and widespread, and their habitat is not heavily fractured. While the Amazon Rainforest is always under constant threat, the brown-mantled tamarin has a better outlook than other rainforest dwellers. The species lives in particularly dense patches of forest that are sparsely populated and are of little economic value to humans in the near future.
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Conservation Efforts
There is a need for more research on the brown-mantled tamarin. The IUCN calls for more research on the life history and ecology of the species as well as population trends. More research can give conservationists a better idea of the health of the species and other species in the same area.
A more pressing matter is the safety of conservation workers in the region where brown-mantled tamarins are found. According to the environmental watchdog group Global Witness, 2017 was the deadliest year on record for environmentalists (there is no data for 2018 at the writing of this page), with South and Central America being the most dangerous region on Earth. Fifty-seven environmentalists were murdered in Brazil, 24 in Columbia, and 8 in Peru. Government corruption and racism against indigenous people often leads to slow investigations with few results.
If conservationists and researchers are to successfully devise strategies on how to protect the environment, they must be able to do so with the confidence that they themselves are protected. There are several government and nongovernment organizations working to protect environmentalists including Global Witness, several branches of the United Nations, and the Nature Conservancy.
There is a need for more research on the brown-mantled tamarin. The IUCN calls for more research on the life history and ecology of the species as well as population trends. More research can give conservationists a better idea of the health of the species and other species in the same area.
A more pressing matter is the safety of conservation workers in the region where brown-mantled tamarins are found. According to the environmental watchdog group Global Witness, 2017 was the deadliest year on record for environmentalists (there is no data for 2018 at the writing of this page), with South and Central America being the most dangerous region on Earth. Fifty-seven environmentalists were murdered in Brazil, 24 in Columbia, and 8 in Peru. Government corruption and racism against indigenous people often leads to slow investigations with few results.
If conservationists and researchers are to successfully devise strategies on how to protect the environment, they must be able to do so with the confidence that they themselves are protected. There are several government and nongovernment organizations working to protect environmentalists including Global Witness, several branches of the United Nations, and the Nature Conservancy.
References:
- https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39947/10295229
- https://www.dpz.eu/en/unit/sociobiology-homepage/study-sites/peru/study-objects/saguinus-fuscicollis-nigrifrons.html
- https://www.globalwitness.org/en/about-us/
- http://www.theprimata.com/saguinus_fuscicollis.html
- https://alltheworldsprimates.org/Members/Home/MasterPrimate.aspx?tid=798
- Soini, P. (1987). Ecology of the Saddle-Back Tamarin Saguinus fuscicollis illigeri on the Río Pacaya, Northeastern Peru. Folia Primatologica - FOLIA PRIMATOL. 49. 11-32.
- Lopes, M.A. & Ferrari, S.F. International Journal of Primatology (1994) 15: 373.
- Goldizen, A.W. Behav Ecol Sociobiol (1989) 24: 79.
Written by Eric Starr, March 2019
