Fauna
Mammal

White-footed Tamarin

Saguinus leucopus

Also known as Silvery-brown Tamarin, White-legged Tamarin, Colombia Tamarin, White-footed Bare-faced Tamarin

White-footed tamarins leap energetically through the Colombian forest canopy, using long sharp claws to cling to trunks while foraging for fruit and tree sap. Family groups of two to fifteen individuals communicate with twittering whistles and rely on dominant females to produce young, which fathers and older siblings help carry. Deforestation across their narrow endemic range poses an ongoing challenge to their long-term survival.

ArborealEndemicSocial
White-footed Tamarin reference
Sebastian Serna Muñoz / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
—observations
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyInsects, Tree exudates, Tropical fruits
Predators
  • Harpy eagles
  • Ocelots
  • Tree snakes
ThreatsDeforestation, forest fragmentation, and illegal pet trade
HabitatsTropical dry forest, humid lowland forest, and secondary forest
Life span13–18 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyCallitrichidae
  2. SpeciesSaguinus leucopus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
May bite defensively if cornered; observe quietly from a respectful distance.
What to notice
Distinguished by silvery brown fur, russet underparts, and contrasting white feet in forest canopy.
Support conservation
Avoid publishing precise group location coordinates to protect wild populations from illegal capture.
Responsible observation
  • Scan the Canopy: Search middle and upper forest layers where small groups leap between branches.
  • Listen for Whistles: High-pitched twittering calls often reveal moving troops before they are seen.
  • Maintain Distance: Stay far enough back to prevent causing alarm or transmitting human pathogens.
Related species
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