Black-chinned Emperor Tamarin

• “Emperor” refers to their mustache’s resemblance to German Emperor Wilhelm II, known for his long, curled facial hair.

• “Tamarin” comes from indigenous South American terms, via Tupi-Guarani, referencing small monkeys.

The animal has claws on all of its fingers and toes, with the exception of its big toe, which has a nail. Its white hairs on its chin are hardly discernible, but its long mustache is distinctive. The emperor tamarin, however, seems to have a black chin. Its chest and abdomen are covered in a mixture of red, orange, and white hair. Its back is covered in thick brown fur. The insides of its limbs and legs are orange. The animal reaches a maximum length of 23–26 cm (9–10 in), with a tail measuring 35–41.5 cm (13.8–16.3 in). It weighs about 500 grams (18 oz).

Emperor tamarins belong to the Callitrichidae family, which also includes marmosets and tamarins. The cotton-top, red-bellied, and saddleback tamarins are their closest relatives. After arriving in the Amazon basin millions of years ago through maritime dispersal, where the majority of smaller monkeys are from Africa, tamarins adapted to live in canopies with small bodies and social cooperation.

Emperor tamarins are agile—adapted to thin branches and canopy movement—excellent climbers and jumpers—they can jump three to four meters across branches—and have good grip because of their claw-like nails. Emperor tamarins often stay out of the water because they are not natural swimmers. They can paddle short distances in an emergency, although they would rather remain in trees above flooded areas.

Emperor tamarins are highly skilled at communicating through whistles, trills, and chirps. They exhibit cooperative childrearing, which is uncommon in primates, and a keen recall for food places and social interactions. Emperor tamarins use both vocal and olfactory communication to recognize other tamarins or predators.

As omnivores, emperor tamarins eat fruit, nectar, insects, spiders, and tree fluids. Emperor tamarins play two roles in the environment: they spread seeds and control insect populations. Raptors, snakes, ocelots, margays, raccoons, culpeo foxes, cougars, and anacondas are their primary predators.

Reproduction

One or two young are typically born to females after a gestation period of 140–145 days.

• Breeding system: Cooperative polyandry or mixed group structure.

  • All group members help carry and protect infants.

  • Dominant female is usually the only breeder.

• Gestation: ~140–145 days.

• Births: Often twins.

• Infant weaning: 2–3 months.

• Maturity: ~18–24 months.

In the wild, emperor tamarins exhibit lively, swift, graceful, gregarious, and playful behavior. The tamarins in captivity are quite gregarious and engage with people. A study by Kerry L. Knox. Donald Stone Sade discovered that tamarin colonies act antagonistically based on seniority in his study of the social behavior of emperor tamarins kept in captivity. Every element on a continuum from interactions between strongly dominating and strongly subordinate individuals makes up an agonistic network. Tamarins typically convey submission and danger in their relationships.

In the wild, emperor tamarins are wary but curious. Some groups become tolerant of humans in eco-lodge regions, although they are still cautious. Since it interferes with their normal behavior, they shouldn't be directly touched or fed. Emperor tamarins are social with members of their own species and are not domesticated; they are not hostile unless they feel threatened.

The emperor tamarin is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but it is slowly becoming in danger of extinction through destruction of habitat. Many live in zoos or are illegally sold as pets.

Threats

• Deforestation (agriculture, ranching, logging).

• Habitat fragmentation.

• Pet trade (illegal wildlife trafficking).

• Climate change, altering forest structure.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation Efforts

• Amazon basin protected areas.

• Anti-trafficking law enforcement.

• Ecotourism-led conservation efforts.

• Rescue and rehabilitation centers.

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade.

Black-chinned Emperor Tamarins are rarely found in Los Campos and Buena Vista, which are located near the left bank of the Rio Acre; and in the banks of the Purus River and Eiru River. The Emperor Tamarin occurs in Amazonian lowland and lower montane rain forests, seasonally flooded forest, remnant forests or fringe patches and secondary forest.

• Movement Pattern: Random

• Individual Type: Nomadic/Troop

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 2,000-3,850

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Mountain; Ghost Town.

• Earth: 

  • Native (Resident): Bolivia; Brazil (Amazonas, Acre); Peru

At first, these guys are passive and tame and can be given any type of berry. (Any sweet berries are recommended.) Do not run up to its face.

ugh

• Coming soon

• Coming soon

Coming soon

• The first-ever drawing a primate in this century.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_tamarin

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-chinned_emperor_tamarin

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_emperor_tamarin

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39948/192551472

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19827/192551358

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Black-chinned-Emperor-Tamarin-964224793

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Bearded-Emperor-Tamarin-964224794