Black Tamarin

• Common Name: Black Tamarin
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1803
• Monkey Size: 20.5 to 28 cm (8.07 to 11.02 in)
• Skin Color(s): Blackish-brown
• Habitat: Rainforest
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Brazil

Also known as western black-handed tamarind, the black tamarind^[1] is a species of tamarin endemic to Brazilian rainforest regions.

• Black tamarin monkeys are one of the smallest primates, weighing around 500 grams.
• Like other tamarins, the hind legs are longer than the front legs, and the thumbs are non-opposable.
• Apart from the big toe, there are claws on all toes and fingers. The face of the black tamarind is usually hairless.
• Black tamarins occupy the lower to middle strata of rainforest trees.
• The fur is blackish brown with lighter markings on the back, similar to tamarind with golden hands but without this species’ orange legs and hands^[2].

• Black tamarind uses primary and secondary forests during foraging, primarily attaching itself to the canopy and spending little time on the ground.
• The closest living relative to the black tamarind is believed to be the golden-handed tamarind (Saguinus midas).
• The geographical range of the black tamarins is limited by the Amazon River (Rio Amazonas) to the north, the Tocantins River (Rio Tocantins) to the east, and the Xingu River (Rio Xingu) to the west.
• They are arboreal monkeys that prefer semi-deciduous forests to facilitate feeding and provide dense growth for protection from terrestrial and aerial predators.
• Due to the small black tamarin monkey, many other animals consider it prey.