Cotton-top Tamarin

monkey · Colombia · tiny primate · forest

Smaller than a soda bottle. Cotton-top tamarins weigh less than half a kilogram, making them one of the smallest monkeys in the whole world. You could hold one in both hands.

Epic white crown. The cotton-top tamarin has a striking long white crest of fur that shoots from its forehead all the way down to its shoulders, like a fancy feathered crown.

Tree-top acrobats. These monkeys live in the tropical forests of northwestern Colombia and spend almost all their time high up in the trees, swinging through the branches during the day.

Bug-eating machines. Cotton-top tamarins hunt insects and munch on sticky plant sap called exudates, giving them the fuel to jump around and stay active.

Forest gardeners. When these tiny monkeys eat seeds and fruit, they help spread those seeds throughout the forest, playing an important role in keeping their ecosystem healthy.