Diet
Cotton-top Tamarins  >  Diet

Diet

PLANT SPECIES CONSUMED BY COTTON-TOP TAMARINS IN COLOMBIA

Most callitrichids eat the fruits of trees, vines and epiphytes, insects, newly sprouted leaves, buds or flowers, and small vertebrates. Some species also rely on tree exudates (gum and sap).

The examination of diet showed that cotton-tops in Santa Catalina and Colosó feed from more than 50 and 60 different tree species, respectively, in at least 45 families. With fruit making up the largest portion of the diet, cotton-top tamarins may be important seed dispersal agents for trees in the rainforest. Garber (1986) found the planting of defecated seeds from two tamarin species yielded a germination success rate of 70%, Callitrichids are likely influencing both regeneration and structure of the forest. For a complete review of the diet of the cotton-top tamarins see Savage et al, 2022.

The diet is highly seasonal, correlating with the rainy season when most trees are fruiting. When fruit is scarce, the proportion of gums, nectar, and insects in the diet increases.

Food Type:  F = Fruit, E = Exudates, Fl = Flower, M = Meristems, N = Nectar
Field Site: C = Coloso, SC = Santa Catalina, SJ = San Juan Nepomuceno

Family Species Common Name Food Type Field Site Image
Acanthaceae Tichanthera sp. Palo de agua F C
Acanthaceae Bravaisia integerrima Palo de agua M SC 1,2,3,4
Achariaceae Mayna grandifolia Puerco espín F SC 1,2
Amaranthaceae Chamissoa altissima Pintabollo F SC 1,2
Anacardiaceae Anacardium excelsum Caracolí F, E C
Astronium graveolens Santa cruz (Quebracho) E SC, C 1,2,3,4
Mangifera indica Mango F C
Spondias mombin Hobo F, E C, SC 1,2,3,4
Anonaceae Annona purpurea Guanacona N SC 1,2,3
Ephedranthus colombianus Yaya prieta F C
Apocynaceae Formosia sp. Peronillo Fl C
Rauvolfia ligustrina Venenito F SC
Thevetia ahouai Tomatillo F SC 1,2,3
Araceae Philodendron cf. hederaceum Abrazadera F SC,C
Arecaceae Desmoncus orthacanthos Matamba F C, SC 1,2,3
Sabal mauritiiformis Palma amarga F SC 1
Bignoniaceae
Anemopaegma orbiculatum Bejuco de bacota (Flor amarilla) N SC 1
Martinella obovata Bejuco colorado N SC 1,2,3
Dolichandra unguis-cati Bejuco uñita N SC 1,2
Pithecoctenium crucigerum Bejuco canastilla N SC
Tabebuia sp. Pijiño blanco F C
Tanaecium jaroba Bejuco calabacilla N SC
Anemopaegma chrysoleucum Bejuco (Flor blanca) 1,2,3
Bombacaceae
Cavanillesia platanifolia Macondo E SC
Ceiba pentandra Ceiba bonga E SC
Pachira quinata Ceiba colorada N SC
Pseudobombax septenatum Ceiba Fl C
Boraginaceae Cordia collococca Muñeco F C
Cordia dentata Uvito F C, SC 1,2
Cordia lucidula Arato F SC
Burseraceae Bursera simarouba Indio en cuero E SC 1,2,3,4
Cactaceae
Acanthocercus tetragonus Pitahaya F, T SC, C 1,2,3
Pereskia guamacho Guamacho F SC, C

Cactus
C
Caesalpiniaceae Brownea ariza Arizal B C
Cassia grandis Cañandonga E SC 1
Capparidaceae Cynophalla sessilis Guanabanito F C, SC 1,2,3,4,5
Crataeva tapia Naranjuelo F SC 1,2,3,4,5
Caricaceae Carica papaya Papaya
 F C
Celastraceae Maytenus sieberiana Corocito F C, SC 1,2,3
Combretaceae Combretum fruticosum Peinecillo N C, SC 1,2
Cucurbitaceae Momordica charantia Balsamina F SC 1,2,3,4
Ebenaceae Diospyros inconstans Juan de dios F SC 1,2
Elaeocarpaceae Muntingia calabura Periquito F C 1,2
Erythroxylaceae Erythoxylon sp. Coca de mico E C
Euforbiaceae Alcalifa sp. Arara F C
Cnidosculus urens
E SC, C
Hura crepitans Ceiba blanca (Ceiba de Leche) Fl SC 1,2,3,4
Fabaceae Acacia affinis Bejuco zarza E
1,2
Lonchocarpus pictus Majagua de gallina E SC 1,2,3
Swartzia simplex Arara F SC
Enterolobium cyclocarpum Orejero F, E C 1,2,3,4,5
Flacourtiaceae Casearia corymbosa Vara de humo F C
Xylosma intermedium Carita de santo F C, SC
Hippocrateaceae Hippocratea cf. volubilis Bejuco corralero E SC
Lauraceae Nectandra membranaceae Aguacatillo E C
Lecytidaceae Lecythis minor Olla de mono E SC, C 1,2,3,4
Leguminosae Albizzia caribaea Guacamayo F, E C, SC
Enterolobium sp. Chicho E C 1
Inga hayesii Guamito F SC
Mimosa sp. Zarza E C
Phitecellobium himeanaefolium Loro F C
Pithecellobium lanceolatum Tiribuchi F SC
Pithecellobium samán Campano E C 1,2
Loganiaceae Strychnos tarapotensis Bejuco alambre F SC 1,2
Loranthaceae Passovia pedunculata Cagadita de pájaro F C, SC 1,2
Malpighiaceae Malpighia punicifolia Cerezo montana F C
Malvaceae Malvaviscus arboreus Quesito F, N SC 1,2,3,4,5
Meliaceae Cedrella odorata Cedro E C
Trichilia acuminata Negrito F C, SC 1,2,3,4
Trichilia appendiculata Mangle blanco F C 1,2,3
Trichilia hirta Hobo Verde F SC, C 1
Trichilia martiana Vara de piedra de humo F C, SC 1,2
Menispermaceae Cissampelos pareira Nigua de puerco F SC
Odontocarya tamoides Nigua de puerco F SC
Mimosaceae Zygia inaequalis Guamo arroyero E SC
Moraceae Brosimum alicastrum Guáimaro F C, SC
Brosimum guianense Pava (Fruta de pava) F SC 1
Brosimum sp. Caucho F, Fl C
Cecropia obtusifolia Guarumo F C
Cecropia sp. Yarumo F, Fl C
Maclura tinctoria Mora F C 1,2,3
Ficus dendroica Suan F C
Ficus pallida Cope F C
Maclura tinctoria Mora F SC
Pouruma sp. Uva de monte F C
Sorocea sprucei Pempinillo F SC
Myrcinaceae Stylogyne turbacensis Patica de paloma F C, SC 1,2,3,4,5
Myrtaceae Eugenia acapulcensis Escobillo F C, SC 1,2
Psidium guajaba Guayabo macho F, E C
Nyctaginaceae Neea nigricans Buche de sapo F C, SC 1,2
Phytolaccaceae Trichostigma octandrum Bejuco de burro F SC 1,2,3
Piperaceae Piper aduncum Piper F SC 1,2,3
Polygonaceae Coccoloba caracasana Uvero F SC 1,2,3,4
Coccoloba coronata Juan garrote M SC 1,2,3,4
Rubiaceae
Alibertia edulis Yaya de cajón F SC 1,2,3
Ciniciolia spinosa Fruta de pava F C
Clavija latifolia Huevo de icotea
 F, FL 1,2,3
Genipa americana Aguacatillo F C, SC 1,2
Genipa caruto Encerao F C
Genippa americana Zapatillo F, Fl C
Pittoniotis trichantha Pigiño (Pigiño blanco) F SC, C 1,2,3
Psychotria sp. Ají de monte F SC
Randia armata Maria angola de espina F C, SC 1,2,3
Rosenbergiodendron formosum Maria angola F SC 1,2,3,4
Rondeletia purdiei Bola de titi F SC 1
Santalaceae Acanthosyris colombiana Yaya de sangre F SC
Sapindaceae Allophyllus racemosus Crispeta F SC 1,2,3
Matayba scrobiculata Guacharaco E SC 1,2
Melicoca bijuga Mamón F C
Paullinia cururu Ojo de perdiz F SC 1,2,3
Paullinia pinnata Carne asada F C, SC 1,2,3,4
Sapindus saponaria Jaboncillo E SC 1,2,3
Melicoccus oliviformis Mamón de mico (o María) F SC 1

Manao F, E C
Sapotaceae Manilkara chicle Níspero F C
Manilkara sp. Níspero de monte F C
Sideroxilon persimile Guayacán de bola F SC 1,2,3
Urea tamarindoides Tamarindo F C

Costilla de vaca F C
Solanaceae Solanum volubile Una de gato F SC 1,2,3,4
Sterculiaceae Basiloxylum excelsum Zapato E C
Guazuma ulmifolia Guácimo F C, SC 1,2,3,4,5
Luehea sp. Cabo de hacha F C
Luehea sp. Molenillo F C
Sterculia apétala Camajón F C
Ulmaceae Celtis iguaneus Maíz tostado F C
Urticaceae Urera baccifera Pringamoza F C, SC
Verbenaceae Vitex compresa Aceituno F SC
Vitaceae Cissus sicyoides Bejuco uva F SC


Cachicarnero F C


Huevo de icotea F SC 1,2,3


Nuez moscado F C


Varita de lazo F SC

References:

Castillo, E.F.G. 1996. Contribucion al conocimiento de la ecologia y etologia del titi de cabeza blanca (Saguinus oedipus – Linnaeus 1758), en la Serrania de la Coraza, Montes de Maria, Coloso, Sucre-Colombia. B.S. Thesis. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Molina, G.M.R. 2001. Inventario floristico de un bosque seco tropical (bs-T) en la hacienda “El Ceibal,” Santa Catalina (Bolivar), con énfasis en las especies asociadas a la dieta del tití cabeciblanco (Saguinus oedipus). B.S. Thesis. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Rizkalla, C. 2000. Feeding ecology and conservation of the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) in Colombia. M.E.M. Thesis. Duke University.

Garcia-Castillo, F.  & Defler, T. R.  2018. The diet of Saguinus oedipus in a dry tropical forest and the importance of Spondias mombin Gum as a “Fallback Food.”  Primate Conservation  (32) 67-79