JUNGLE PORTRAIT

This was simply a portrait of wonderful little monkey one of the smallest primates to be found in the new world forests. I have tried to highlight the animals beautiful white crest and the equally textured face of this cute yet extremely endangered animal. It was also important to have a dark background one that included some texture but not simply a uniformal dark back drop.

ABOUT THE SPECIES

The Cotton-top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) is one of the smallest of the new world monkeys, a primate weighing less than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). Also known as cotton headed tamarin and creasted tamarin the species has been hunted almost into extinction. It's now restricted to small area of northwest Columbia, between the Cauca and Magdalena rivers to the south and east, the Atlantic coast to the north, and the Atrato river to the west. Found in both primary and secondary forests, from humid forests in the south of its range to tropical dry forests in the north. Easily recognized by its long, white sagittal crest which extends from the monkeys forehead to its shoulders. The tamarins diet is mainly fruit and animal material and is made up of insects, plant material such as gum and sap, nectar and occasionally small reptiles and amphibians. They sleep in social groups within trees with foliage cover and are extremely vigilant always on the look out for potential predators including raptors, mustelids, felids and snakes. The species is now listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.