Tropical dry forest, tropical humid forest, and very humid premontane forest (Defler 2004). Present in both primary and secondary forests, in gallery forest, and in some urban areas (Poveda et al. 2001; Poveda and Sanchez-Palomino 2004).

Marmosets and tamarins are distinguished from the other monkeys of the New World by their small size, modified claws rather than nails on all digits except the big toe, the presence of two as opposed to three molar teeth in either side of each jaw, and by the occurrence of twin births. They eat fruits, flowers, nectar, plant exudates (gums, saps, latex) and animal prey (including frogs, snails, lizards, spiders and insects). Marmosets have morphological and behavioural adaptations for gouging trees trunks, branches and vines of certain species to stimulate the flow of gum, which they eat, and in some species form a notable component of the diet. The dentitions of the tamarins (Saguinus and Leontopithecus) do not provide for gouging, and they eat gums only when readily available.

Tamarins live in extended family groups of between four and 15 individuals, but usually 2-8. Defler (2004) recorded group sizes from 3-9 (average 4.6, n=42), while Poveda (2000) recorded groups of 2-12 individuals (average group size 6.6, n=7). A home range of 17.7 ha was recorded by Poveda (2000) near Mariquita (six months of observations).

Infants reported in May-June and October-November by Vargas and Solano (1994; Vargas and Solano 1996a,b).

Size:
Tamarins are monomorphic - exhibiting only minor differences in body and canine size.
Adult weight male 494 g (n=2) (Hernández-Camacho and Defler 1985)
Adult weight female 490 g (n=2) (Hernández-Camacho and Defler 1985)
Adults H&B 23.0-25.0 cm, TL 38.0 cm (Defler 2004).

Red List Category

Red List Criteria

Version

2008

Morales-Jiménez, A.L., Link, A. & Stevenson, P.

Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

Justification

History

• 2003
  Vulnerable
  (IUCN 2003)
• 2000
  Vulnerable
• 1996
  Vulnerable
• 1994
  Endangered
  (Groombridge 1994)
• 1990
  Endangered
  (IUCN 1990)
• 1988
  Vulnerable
  (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
• 1986
  Vulnerable
  (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
• 1982
  Vulnerable
  (Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

Calle (1992) recorded very high densities of S. leucopus in a small forest on the Río Miel, Antioquia: 82 individiduals/km², the result of forest destruction and displaced groups fro elsewhere (Defler 2004). Bernstein et al. (1976) reported 1-4 individuals/km² in a forest patch in northern Bolívar.

Decreasing

This species occurs in an area of intensive colonization and forest loss. Cuartas-Calle (2001) concluded that the future of this species is worrying, with the forest in its range being degraded and fragmented at an accelerating rate. Natural habitats are being affected by logging, the expansion of agriculture and cattle ranching, mining, and the construction of roads and a dam in the Río Miel (Calle 1992; Defler 2004). They have been recorded sold as pets in the markets of Medellín and Bogotá (Defler 2004).

Listed on CITES Appendix 1. Also on the US Endangered Species List.

Saguinus leucopus occurs in one regional reserve (Cañon del Rio Alicante), which is poorly protected, and being exploited for people that live in the area (Morales-Jiménez 2006). It also occurs in the proposed park of the Sierra San Lucas. A campaign is underway for the creation of a protected area for the species, which will also benefit the Variegated Spider Monkey, Ateles hybridus, in the north-east of the department of Antioquia, Colombia, 07°01'N and 74°05'W, 100?200 m above the sea level, on the left margin of the Río Magdalena (Morales-Jiménez 2007b; Morales-Jiménez and Rivadeneira 2006).

A regional captive breeding programme supported by the European Callitrichid TAG (18 zoos) was begun in 2006 (Morales-Jiménez 2006, 2007a; Morales-Jiménez and Ruivo 2006). In Colombia, the species is maintained in at least seven zoos, but all of them have problems with reproduction and survival.

An action plan has been drawn up which includes the continuation and organization of ex situ breeding, and research on husbandry, nutrition, and management in captivity, environmental education and education programmes for zoos, and in situ field research, including population surveys and studies of habitat use (Morales-Jiménez 2007c).