golden tamarin

The golden-handed tamarin, aka red-handed tamarin or Midas tamarin, hails from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. They prefer wooded forests with plenty of trees . Via interspecific competition (competition for the same resources), these tamarins are gradually replacing the pied tamarins, by moving into their territory and out competing them for food. Due to stable and slowly expanding numbers, these tamarins are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Saguinus midas Weight: Up to 1.21 lbs. Length: Up to 17 inches, including their tail Lifespan: Up to 16 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) As is the case with other tamarins, they have claws instead of nails on their fingers and toes, sans their big toes.

2.) These critters lack an opposable thumb.

3.) Golden-handed tamarins dwell in family troops of up to 15 individuals.

4.) There is little competition between the males of the troop.

5.) When 1 tamarin is threatened by a predator or another troop the others will run to its defense.

But wait, there’s more on the golden-handed tamarin! 6.) These critters can be aggressive and territorial. They also possess claws and sharp teeth.

7.) Only 1 female in the troop will breed each season. The others all suppress the instinct to breed.

Did you know…? The golden-handed tamarin can jump up to 60 feet and even leap that distance onto the ground without injury.

8.) Females undergo up to a 170 day gestation (pregnancy) that yields up to 2 infants.

9.) Infants are cared for primarily by the father, but given to mom to nurse. The other tamarins in the group aid in rearing the infants as well.

10.) Like other tamarins, these critters are primarily arboreal (spend their lives in trees).

But wait, there’s still more on the golden-handed tamarin! 11.) Leaves, plant exudates (a substance secreted by a plant), fruit, flowers, nectar, eggs, insects & other arthropods, frogs, lizards, and spiders are all on the menu for these omnivores (eat plant and animal matter).

12.) Cats , snakes , and birds of prey all hunt these tiny critters.

Now a Short Golden-Handed Tamarin Video!

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Competition is most typically considered to be the interaction of species that strive to acquire a common resource that is in limited supply, but more commonly can be termed as the direct or indirect interaction of organisms that leads to a change in health when the organisms share the same resource. Typically neither organism benefits.

Some examples are: lions and cheetahs , squirrels and woodpeckers , or an antelope and a gazelle .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips14','

Gestation is the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth. In other words, pregnancy.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips16','

Predation is the ecological process by which an animal (or an organism) kills and feeds on another. The animal that kills to feed is called a predator. The 1 that is killed to be eaten is called prey.

Some examples or predators are: raptors , wolves , snakes , cats , and sharks .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips28','

Stemming from the Latin word arboreus, which means "pertaining to trees", arboreal creatures spend all or most of their lives in or around trees and tall shrubs. They seldom venture to the ground, if at all.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips28','

Stemming from the Latin word arboreus, which means "pertaining to trees", arboreal creatures spend all or most of their lives in or around trees and tall shrubs. They seldom venture to the ground, if at all.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips29','

Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs , dogs , coatis , bears , hedgehogs , chimpanzees , and more.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips29','

Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs , dogs , coatis , bears , hedgehogs , chimpanzees , and more.');

golden tamarin

The Golden-Handed Tamarin