Emperor Tamarin

More Information

Emperor tamarins are small primates that appear mostly gray with gold, white, or red markings. Males, females, and young emperor tamarins all sport long, white whiskers that sweep upward like a mustache. They have dark fur on their faces and ears, along with long, reddish tails and claws that allow them cling to trees. These agile monkeys use various types of vocalizations; olfactory glands on their chest and genitals also help them communicate with each other through scent.

They are territorial, preferring wooded habitats. Wild family groups can include up to 15 individuals, with one breeding female and two breeding males. Like many tamarin species, they generally birth one or two offspring at a time (after a four-and-a-half-month gestation period). The young are carried on the backs of the adults for up to seven weeks and weaned at two or three months of age. They become adults between 16–20 months.

Did You Know?

• The name of this primate species is said to have come from Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who was well known for his bushy, upturned handlebar mustache.
• Emperor tamarin males take on many caregiving duties for the young, including washing newborns as soon as they are born and carrying them for hours each day until they are weaned.
• Emperor tamarins are listed as a species of Least Concern with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List, but experience pressure from deforestation and other human agricultural activities. They have also been known to be trafficked as pets.