Pro: Emperor Tamarin
BECOMING A PRIMATE PRO... SORT OF
10 OF THE WEIRDEST PRIMATE SPECIES
#9 EMPEROR TAMARIN
Saguinus imperator
YES!
Also called the BLACK-CHINNED EMPEROR TAMARIN
Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have more than one common name.
Scientific names are in Latin and they are written in italics. They are standardized and for everyone, no matter what language you may speak. They are bound by a formal naming system, called binominal nomenclature, that has strict rules. Scientific names prevent misidentification. Those names only change if a species, or its genus, is officially redesignated by experts.
Emperor tamarins are native to the lush, richly biodiverse Amazon Rainforest south of the equator. Their 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.
- Named for German Emperor Wilhelm II, who was known for his impressive mustache
- They live in small extended family units of 4 to 15 individuals
- The lure of their unique appearance makes them potential victims of the illegal pet trade
Their habitat faces ongoing deforestation in the Amazon, particularly in Peru. 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.
- Emperor tamarins eat a diet of flowers, nectar, fruits, and tree gums found in the mid-to-high levels of the forest. Their diet and environmental needs cannot be adequately met or replicated in human living conditions.
- To become pets, baby primates are stolen from their mothers. As a result, they do not develop normally emotionally.
- When taken from the wild, their mothers are killed to capture the baby.
- Even small primates are never domesticated. They always remain wild.
- Caged primates are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches. Some die as a result of their captivity.
- Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping primates and endangered species are pets.
- Emperor tamarins belong with other tamarins in the tropical rainforests of South America. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
Visit the EMPEROR TAMARIN Primate Species Profile