Cotton-Top Tamarin Sketch

REFERENCES:


http://www.calgaryzoo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=52&animalID=205


http://www.lpzoo.org/factsheet.php?contentID=152


http://library.thinkquest.org/27257/cotton.html


http://www.animalinfo.org/species/primate/saguoedi.htm


http://www.aza.org/species-survival-plan-program/

Maintaining and Preserving Biodiversity or the Organism.

The zoo manages long time survival for the species. They increase the public awareness of wildlife conservation issues, and each animal’s social and biological needs are well met. Zoos want to maintain or increase a healthy, genetically diverse population of the species.


All zoos in general can affect the biodiversity of the cotton-top tamarins because they keep taking them out of the wild and exporting them to other countries, leaving less and less behind in the wild.



There are more than 115 AZA (Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) SSP(Species Survival Plan) Programs

Species Survival Plan Programs

Taxon Advisory Group (TAG)

Institutional Representatives (IRs)


Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee.


AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums

How Humans have Impacted Their Natural Habitat

Colombia is one of the top ten countries in the world for deforestation. Humans have been cutting away the homes of the cotton-top tamarin and many more animals. Deforestation for fuel, housing, and agriculture is the greatest threat to the cotton-top tamarins survival.
5% of tropical forests are lost each year which is their main habitat.
Another way humans have impacted the cotton-top tamarin in its natural habitat is from illegal pet trade. Cotton-top tamarins have been exported from Colombia to other countries, while their numbers go down.

Definitions, and Risk Level

DEFINITIONS:

Extirpated: 

A species has become extinct in one area at least but still exists in other area(s)

Endangered: 

A species whose numbers are so small it is at risk of becoming extinct or extirpated if extensive measures to protect it are not undertaken

Threatened: 

A species that is likely to become endangered if not protected in some way

Special Concern: 

A species not endangered or threatened but extremely uncommon or has unique or highly specific habitat requirements

From habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, the cotton-top tamarins are endangered. The Cotton-top Tamarin Species Survival Plan is a program to help and conserve the species. Lincoln Park Zoo is part of the Cotton-Top Tamarin Species Survival Plan

Structural and Behavioural Adaptations

The cotton-top tamarin has two main structural adaptations that help them to compete in their habitat for resources. Their long tails help them to climb and help them get around especially when they are up high in trees. Their hands are small and allow them to grab, peel, and create things with their fingers, just like humans since they have a very similar hand structure. It allows them to get to certain foods and objects that other animals may not be able to get to. A  behavioural structure is when the tamarins will show their rear area to other groups they come in contact with, which is how the tell others that it is their territory.

Niche, Habitat, and Diet.

The cotton-top tamarin has a narrow niche, that is slowly getting smaller due to the loss of rainforests.
They lives in rainforests, open woodlands, and are native to northwest Columbia.
40% of their diet is insects. Fruits, flowers, nectar, gums and saps of plants, and small animal prey such as frogs, snails, lizards, spiders and insects are also part of their diet.
The tamarins form small groups and migrate in and out the big group that usually consists between 3-9.
To define their territory, they use scent marks. When they come into contact with other groups, they will threaten the other group by showing their rear area as a territorial display instead of physical contact.



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Physical Characteristics

10 physical differences in species:
-The length of their tail is a continuous characteristic because each tamarin has a different length of tail that the length is determined from the parents genes.
- Their colors are spread out differently in some areas. This characteristic is continuous because the colors will be slightly different on each tamarin.
-The amount of offspring is a continuous characteristic because the number of offspring the parent has which is usually between 3 and 9, the more likely the offspring will have once it becomes a parent as well.
-Their mouth size is a continuous characteristic because each monkeys mouth will be a different size and the size can determine how well they can defend themselves.
-Their claw size is a continuous characteristic, but is not inherited by the parents.
-Some of the animals tails are round at the end and some are pointed. This is a discrete characteristic because there is a limited amount of ways the end of its tail can be shaped.
-The weight of the tamarins is a continuous characteristic because each tamarin will have a different mass due to the environment they have adapted to and live in.
-The length of their body is a continuous characteristic because their bodies are all different lengths just like their height. Their bodies are usually in the range of 7-12 inches.
-Their species is Cedipus, which is a discrete characteristic because there are limited types of species that they can be apart of, and it gets passed down in each generation is they mate with the same species.
-The white lines on their faces are a continuous characteristic because each tamarins markings are slightly different.