Pied Tamarin

The pied tamarin is characterised by its highly contrasting two-tone coat, with a white upper body and brown lower body. The bicolour pattern resembles a mantle draped over the shoulders and neck, and gives it its name. The term ‚pied‘ means having two or more colours. Like all marmosets, pied tamarins have claws instead of nails on all their digits – except the big toe.

Tamarins have a unique mating system among mammals. Only the dominant female of the group will breed. This Alpha female will mate with multiple males within the group, a process known as cooperative polyandry. After a gestation period of 140–150 days, she typically gives birth to twins. Infants are primarily cared for by the dad, who only brings them to the mum every couple of hours for nursing. 

Pied tamarins have a small home range, which is largely confined to the area around the city of Manaus in the Amazon basin.