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Measurements Body
length: 25cm |
Diet They eat fruit, tree sap and insects, eggs and even small birds on occasion. |
Identification The coat is greyish brown in colour and the tail is an orange/brown. Their under-belly is more whitish, with black hands and feet. This species is most easily identified by its white 'mostash'; which both males and females have. The name 'emperor tamarin comes from the mostashes similarity to that of Kaiser Wilhelm II (emperor of Germany 1888 to 1918). |
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Behaviour They are highly social, living in family groups of around 8 members. Older off-spring help with the care of their younger siblings and take turns to carry the young. They often associate with other tamarin species such as red-mantled tamarins.
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Distribution & Habitat Tamarins are small South American primates which live in tropical rainforest. |
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Reproduction Their gestation is 140 days - after which they give birth to 1 or sometimes 2 young. The young are carried by the breeding male (and other juvenile group membrs and passed back to the mother to suckle. Youngsters are usually weaned at about 3 months of age. |
Conservation Like many of the tamarins - emperors are threatened in the wild due to loss of habitat. The emperor tamarins at Cricket St Thomas are part of a European Breeding Program co-ordinated from Lisbon Zoo. |
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