Blog 3: Emperor Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
 | |
|
Social Organization
Emperor Tamarins normally live in an extended family group of two to eight individuals, though there can be as many as 15 in a group. They have been observed living in mixed-species groups with other tamarins, particularly the saddleback tamarin (saquinus fuscicollis), and this mutually beneficial relationship likely protects both species from predators (Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute). The average size of their family group is closer to 8, it comprises both females and males, typically with a predominantly male membership. The eldest female acts as a troop’s leader, reigning over mature males (New England Primate Conservancy). They have a matriarchal system.
 |
| Fig. 2, Adam Watson, Diagram of Matriline |
Social Structure
Emperor Tamarins have a close, cooperative relationship with one another. They forage, eat, play, engage in mutual grooming sessions, sleep overnight, and protect the boundaries of their territory from intruders together. They may leave their natal group once they reach sexual maturity, they can either join another existing group of emperor tamarins or start a new group with other individuals who have left home (Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute).
As mentioned before, they commonly form mixed-species groups with saddleback tamarins, but they are also known (to a lesser extent) to do it with Goeldi’s marmosets. These relationships benefit each species; by offering greater safety in numbers against jungle predators (such as wild cats, snakes, and birds of prey) and by offering more opportunities for successful foraging expeditions.
They are known to use their “might” to intimidate the smaller monkeys into giving up their premier position on a fruit tree, but they have also been known to share by dropping pieces of fruit to the lower levels of the forest canopy to their “downstairs” neighbors (New England Primate Conservancy).
Mating System
In this species, the dominant female mates with multiple males; this practice is known as a polyandrous mating system. This usually includes one breeding female and two breeding males, which ensures paternal support for the female’s offspring. They are seasonal breeders; after a gestation period of about 4.5 months, females give birth to twins. Although twins are the norm, occasionally triples occur. Births happen during the moist or rainy season, between September and March when food is most abundant. The interbirth interval in the species is six months (New England Primate Conservancy).
Sexual dimorphism is unremarkable in this species. Genital skin color variation is present in tamarins and may play a role in sexual signaling, however, there isn’t strong evidence for genital color variation in emperor tamarins (Moreira 7).
Care System
Adult males assist with the birth, taking the newborn immediately and washing it. The mother carries and feeds the babies for about 30 minutes every 2-3 hours, and the rest of the time it is the males that carry and care for the infants. They take turns carrying the infants on their backs, to and from the mother for weaning sessions. The reason for this seems to be the cost of parental care, lactating female tamarins need to eat approximately twice as much as nonlactating females or adult males (Goldizen 37).
Adults carry the infants until they are 6-7 weeks old, and the young are weaned after 2-3 months (Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute). The males’ assistance allows the mother to rest or go off and forage; they also protect the infants and offer comfort and reassurance when the little ones cry. Young emperor tamarins require a lot of supervision because of how active they are. As they become “toddlers” and begin exploring their environment, they put themselves at a greater risk of falling to their death. Their mortality rate in the wild is reported at its highest between the first 5 and 15 weeks of life. To help ensure that the youngest ones remain safe, a dominant female’s eldest daughters (the ones who have remained in the natal group) assist with child care (New England Primate Conservancy).
Works Cited
“Emperor Tamarin”, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, n.d., https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/emperor-tamarin. Accessed 16 February 2025.
Goldizen, Anne Wilson. "Tamarin and marmoset mating systems: unusual flexibility." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 3.2 (1988): 36-40.
Moreira, Lais AA, et al. "Evaluating genital skin color as a putative sexual signal in wild saddleback (Leontocebus weddelli) and emperor (Saguinus imperator) tamarins." American Journal of Primatology 85.2 (2023): e23456
New England Primate Conservancy. “Emperor Tamarin Tamarinus Imperator”, New England Primate Conservancy, Kathleen Downey, 2021, https://neprimateconservancy.org/emperor-tamarin/#:~:text=This%20monkey%20is%20about%20the,(0.3%E2%80%930.5%20kg). Accessed 16 February 2025.
Comments
Post a Comment