Mammal · GBIF taxon 2436476
White-footed Tamarin
Saguinus leucopusAlso 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
Licensed referenceSebastian Serna Muñoz / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Insects
- 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
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCallitrichidae
- SpeciesSaguinus leucopus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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.
Congener Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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