Cotton Top Tamarin

Status: Critically Endangered

The Cotton-top Tamarin(Oedipomidas oedipus) is a small (less than 20 oz.) primate currently only found in Northwestern Colombia. Most of the day is spent foraging in the trees for insects, ripe fruit, seeds, nectar, and gum that have oozed out of trees. Some have also learned from other family members to catch mice, lizards, frogs and birds.

The cotton-top tamarin is listed as Critically Endangered due to a severe population reduction, estimated to be greater than 80% over the past three generations due to habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade.