EMPEROR TAMARIN
Saguinus imperator
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
A petite primate with a distinctive white mustache, the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) makes his home in the lush, richly biodiverse Amazon Rainforest south of the equator. His 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.
This New World species prefers the humid, tropical lowland areas of the western Amazon but may also be found at higher elevations in patches of montane forest. Spending his days living in the middle-to-upper canopy, he’s happiest in primary forests, where humans have not yet disturbed his habitat.
The emperor tamarin is known to share his geographic distribution with at least two other species of tamarin, and some research suggests that he shares nests with other groups of tamarin species.
Emperor tamarin geographic range. Map credit: Oona Räisänen & IUCN
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What Does It Mean?Frugivorous: Having a diet that consists of fruits. Montane Forest: A forest that grows on the slope of a mountain, regardless of altitude or latitude, within a specific climate, just below the subalpine zone. New World Primate: New World monkeys are native to Central and South America, whereas Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia. |
Size, Weight, and Lifespan
The diminutive emperor tamarin is about the same size as an eastern gray squirrel, weighing in at less than 1 lb (450 g) at maturity. The emperor tamarin grows to about 10 in (25 cm) but has a remarkable tail that is longer than her body at 16 in (40 cm).
Appearance
The emperor tamarin is most widely known for her elegant, white mustache. Her thick, brindled fur can vary from grayish-yellow to silvery-gray with a reddish-gold tail. Often, she has a white tuft of fur along her underside. Her feet, hands, and face are black.
The diminutive emperor tamarin is about the same size as an eastern gray squirrel, weighing in at less than 1 lb (450 g) at maturity. The emperor tamarin grows to about 10 in (25 cm) but has a remarkable tail that is longer than her body at 16 in (40 cm).
Appearance
The emperor tamarin is most widely known for her elegant, white mustache. Her thick, brindled fur can vary from grayish-yellow to silvery-gray with a reddish-gold tail. Often, she has a white tuft of fur along her underside. Her feet, hands, and face are black.
Diet
An emperor tamarin eats a variety of plant-based foods, small insects, and invertebrates. Most of her preferred foods—flowers, nectar, fruits, and gums—can be found in the mid-to-high canopy, but she travels to lower levels of the canopy in search of certain fruits. Equipped with tool-like claws, she is skilled at gouging tree trunks in search of gum.
Diet
An emperor tamarin eats a variety of plant-based foods, small insects, and invertebrates. Most of her preferred foods—flowers, nectar, fruits, and gums—can be found in the mid-to-high canopy, but she travels to lower levels of the canopy in search of certain fruits. Equipped with tool-like claws, she is skilled at gouging tree trunks in search of gum.
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Behavior and Lifestyle
Emperor tamarins live in small extended families of between 4 and 15 individuals. Together, they establish nesting sites and sleep in small groups. Oftentimes, their groups intermix with other species of tamarin, including the Weddell’s saddle-back tamarin. Daily Life and Group Dynamics As with other species of tamarin, emperor tamarins spend most of their time foraging for food, traveling between the top of the canopy and the forest floor. Emperor tamarins use all five digits of their hands and feets to travel through the canopy. This helps them cover large swaths of forest, despite their size. They have been known to travel up to 0.12 sq mi (30 ha) in search of food. When not foraging for food, younger members of the group are playful, while other members of the group help establish nesting sites. 
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Fun FactsThe emperor tamarin is named after the German Emperor Wilhelm II, who also sported a large white mustache. Emperor tamarins are able to use their claw-like grasp to clutch branches of the canopy in a way that many other primates of similar size cannot. Emperor tamarins’ vision is uniquely adapted for success. All males and nearly all females see dichromatically, meaning they view the world in two colors, helping them to detect predators—even those in camouflage—including raptors, snakes, and even humans. Some females view the world trichromatically, meaning they see in three colors, helping them to more easily detect the ripest fruits. |
Communication
Emperor tamarins communicate through a series of calls and vocalizations. These calls have unique sounds and often alert the group to potential predators.
Researchers have found that tamarins are able to discriminate between slight variations of acoustic cues. This means that they have a language of calls that are understood and used for distinct communicative needs.
Like many other primates, varied facial expressions are also used to communicate.
Reproduction and Family
Only one female reproduces at a time. The females usually have more than one reproductive partner, meaning that the females mate with more than one male. However, tamarins can also pair with a single partner for many years. Typically, the females give birth between September and March. The young are always watched after by the mother or other females in the group.
Photo credit: Kevin Barret/Creative Common
Ecological Role
These partially frugivorous, that is fruit-eating, primates are thought to contribute to seed dispersal, which is essential to forest regeneration. They play a role in the food ecosystem and are a source of food for snakes, pumas, and other predators who share the Amazon Rainforest habitat.
These partially frugivorous, that is fruit-eating, primates are thought to contribute to seed dispersal, which is essential to forest regeneration. They play a role in the food ecosystem and are a source of food for snakes, pumas, and other predators who share the Amazon Rainforest habitat.
Conservation Status and Threats
The emperor tamarin is not currently threatened or endangered. The most recent assessment done by the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified them as Least Concern (IUCN, 2008). However, their habitat faces ongoing deforestation in the Amazon, particularly in Peru.
Much of the Peruvian Amazon has been deforested for agriculture or for natural resources, such as wood and rubber. The areas of forest where the emperor tamarin lives have largely been spared from the devastating deforestation that other areas of the Amazon have experienced.
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.
The emperor tamarin has a limited zoo population, with just over 500 in zoos.
Conservation Efforts
No specific efforts are aimed toward protecting the emperor tamarin, but there are larger conservation efforts to protect the Amazon Rainforest. Parts of their habitat distribution fall in nationally protected parks. These include the Sierra del Divisor National Park and Parque Nacional Alto Puras in Peru to the Sierra do Divisidor National Park of Acre and the Macauá National Forest in Brazil. Although these areas are not specifically designed to protect wildlife, they fall under strict protection from the environmental ministries of their respective countries.
The emperor tamarin is not currently threatened or endangered. The most recent assessment done by the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified them as Least Concern (IUCN, 2008). However, their habitat faces ongoing deforestation in the Amazon, particularly in Peru.
Much of the Peruvian Amazon has been deforested for agriculture or for natural resources, such as wood and rubber. The areas of forest where the emperor tamarin lives have largely been spared from the devastating deforestation that other areas of the Amazon have experienced.
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.
The emperor tamarin has a limited zoo population, with just over 500 in zoos.
Conservation Efforts
No specific efforts are aimed toward protecting the emperor tamarin, but there are larger conservation efforts to protect the Amazon Rainforest. Parts of their habitat distribution fall in nationally protected parks. These include the Sierra del Divisor National Park and Parque Nacional Alto Puras in Peru to the Sierra do Divisidor National Park of Acre and the Macauá National Forest in Brazil. Although these areas are not specifically designed to protect wildlife, they fall under strict protection from the environmental ministries of their respective countries.
Video courtesy of ARKive.org
References:
- https://alltheworldsprimates.org/Members/Home/MasterPrimate.aspx?tid=795
- https://twycrosszoo.org/animals/primates/monkeys/emperor-tamarin/
- http://wildlife.durrell.org/animals/mammals/emperor-tamarin/
- Kinzey, Warren G. New World Primates. New York: Walter de Gruyter, INC, 1997.
- http://www.nationalparks-worldwide.info/sam/peru/national-parks/map-national-parks-peru.jpg
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39948/0
- Tagliaro, Claudia Helena, et al. "Molecular phylogeny of the genus Saguinus (Platyrrhini, Primates) based on the ND1 mitochondrial gene and implications for conservation." Genetics and Molecular Biology 28.1 (2005): 46-53.
Written by John DeVreese, December 2017
