The Pied Tamarin (Saguinus bicolor) is an endangered primate mammal in the Callitrichidae family of monkeys. It is also known as the Brazilian Bare-Faced Tamarin.
The Pied Tamarin is black and white, with a black face, large black ears, a fluffy white collar, short white whiskers, and a greyish-orange-brown body. It has small dark eyes. It has black feet with sharp claws that enable it to climb trees.
It measures 21-28 centimetres (8-11 inches) without the tail. Its tail measures 33-42 centimetres (13-16 inches) long.
The Pied Tamarin is native to a small area in Brazil, specifically the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.
It is omnivorous, eating fruit, flowers, nectar, insects, spiders, and bird eggs. Its predators include cats, eagles, and snakes.
It lives in groups of 2-15 individuals. Only the alpha (dominant) female has young. The alpha female is pregnant for 140-170 days before giving birth to two babies. The father usually looks after the babies, with the help of the entire group, which is called alloparenting. The mother feeds the babies.
The average life expectancy of the Pied Tamarin is about 10 years in the wild.
Location of photographs: London Zoo, England and Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM