Cyber FlashCards

10 of the weirdest primate species

#9

what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
EMPEROR TAMARIN
What is the scientific name?
Saguinus imperator
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
MONKEY
Where do they live?
Emperor tamarins are native to the lush, richly biodiverse Amazon Rainforest south of the equator. Their range extends from the eastern Amazon basin of Peru along the Rio Acre to the most western state of Acre in Brazil and to the far northeast corner of Bolivia.
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Latin America
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Where emperor tamarins live (in red). Map: Oona Räisänen & IUCN/Creative Commons
New world or old world?
NEW WORLD
fascinating facts
  • Named for German Emperor Wilhelm II, who was known for his impressive mustache
  • They live in small extended family units of 4 to 15 individuals
  • The lure of their unique appearance makes them potential victims of the illegal pet trade
What threatens their future?
Their habitat faces ongoing deforestation in the Amazon, particularly in Peru. As with many other small primate species found in the Amazon, the emperor tamarin is subjected to the illegal pet trade. Their quirky appearance and large mustaches draw intrigue from those wishing to sell them into the industry. 
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
LEAST CONCERN
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Least Concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Widespread and abundant species and subspecies are included in this category.
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT EMPEROR TAMARINS
Go to the emperor tamarin Primate Species Profiles page
are emperor tamarinS good pets?
NO
  1. Emperor tamarins eat a diet of flowers, nectar, fruits, and tree gums found in the mid-to-high levels of the forest. Their diet and environmental needs cannot be adequately met or replicated in human living conditions. 
  2. To become pets, baby primates are stolen from their mothers. As a result, they do not develop normally emotionally.
  3. When taken from the wild, their mothers are killed to capture the baby.
  4. Even small primates are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  5. Caged primates are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches. Some die as a result of their captivity.
  6. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping primates and endangered species are pets.
  7. Emperor tamarins belong with other tamarins in the tropical rainforests of South America. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
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​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
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The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
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​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2019. You may freely use and share these learning activities for educational purposes. 
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