Red Bellied Tamarin | Emerald Park | Theme Park & Zoo
A red-bellied tamarin perched on a log

Red-bellied tamarin

Saguinus labiatus
Conservation status IUCN
Least concern

For more info on classifications visit
www.iucnredlist.org

endangered list labels least concern
endangered list least concern sign
  • paws icon
    Animal class
    Mammal, primate
  • house icon
    Habitat
    Primary and secondary rainforest, they typically inhabit the middle section of the tree canopy.
  • apple icon
    Diet
    Omnivores – fruit makes up approximately 60% of their diet. They will eat nectar and insects during the dry season.
  • location icon
    Conservation status
    Least concern
  • Introduction

    Red-belied tamarins are mostly dark brown with red marks on their belly and chest. The white “moustache” around the nose and mouth gives them a distinctive appearance.

    The males and females look the same making them a monomorphic species. They are a relatively small New World monkey that are active during the day and spending their time the trees. They are skilled climbers with a long tail that helps them to balance while moving through the trees and small claws to help with their grip.

    They live in social groups of up to 15 individuals consisting of a breeding male and female, their offspring, and other male helpers.

    Red-bellied tamarins play an important role in the ecosystem, that they inhabit. By eating fruits, they carry out seed dispersal and therefore contribute to the healthy growth of plants in the rain forest.

  • Conservation

    Red-bellied tamarin are classed as least concern.

    There is no evidence for any major threats, but habitat loss may have negative impacts on some populations.

    Emerald Park conservation contribution:

    EEP

    Red-bellied tamarins are part of the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP). This means that their population is managed to ensure that there are heathy individuals within EAZA member zoos should there be the requirement of reintroductions, to the wild, in the future.

  • Habitat

    Red-bellied tamarins are from South America, they occur in the primary and secondary rainforest of the Amazon in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.

  • Fun Facts

    They are arboreal animals, living in the trees, and will typically inhabit the middle section of the canopy.

    Red-bellied tamarins are known to form associations with other callitrichids, such as Goeldi’s monkeys. By living together this gives both species a stronger defence of their home-range.