Died out long, long ago now - more's the pity given how many unusual species they held.
What is your favourite New world primate species ?
- Thread starter Onychorhynchus coronatus
- Start date
Died out long, long ago now - more's the pity given how many unusual species they held.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Sounds like another tragic loss.
What a shame, I'm sure that cologne is a far less interesting zoo to visit without these.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Looking at ZTL, this is how the former and current New World Primate holdings for Köln shape up, with approximate dates the former holdings ended:
Current:
Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)
Midas Tamarin (Saguinus midas)
Red-bellied Tamarin (Saguinus labiatus)
Venezuelan Red Howler (Alouatta seniculus seniculus)
Weddell's Saddleback Tamarain (Leontocebus weddelli weddelli)
Western Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea pygmaea)
Yellow-Breasted Capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos)
Former:
Bearded Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator subgrisescens) - c.1980
Tassel-eared Marmoset (Mico humeralifer) - c.1966
Red-backed Bearded Saki (Chiropotes chiropotes) - 1991
Red-faced Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus) - ????
Black-tufted Marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) - ????
Black-chinned Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator imperator) - c.1996
Black-headed Uakari (Cacajao melanocephalus) - c.1980
Black-mantled Tamarin (Leontocebus nigricollis) - 1960s
Humboldt's Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) - 1950s
Goeldi's Monkey (Callimico goeldii) - 2011
Collared Titi (Callicebus torquatus) - c.1960
Black Bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas) - 1975
Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) - ????
Cotton-top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) - c.2018
Equatorial Saki (Pithecia aequatorialis) - 1981
Geoffroy's Marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi) - 2003
Golden-headed Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) - 2009
Guianan Brown Capuchin (Sapajus apella apella) - ????
Hoffmann's Titi (Plecturocebus hoffmannsi) - 1966
Humboldt's Night Monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) - 1960s
Martins' Tamarin (Saguinus martinsi) - c.1960
Masked Titi (Callicebus personatus) - 1958
Mittermeier's Saki (Pithecia mittermeieri) - 1981
Monk Saki (Pithecia monachus) - 1981
Neblina Uakari (Cacajao hosomi) - 1992
Ornate Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi ornatus) - 2008
Pied Tamarin (Saguinus bicolor) - ????
Coppery Titi (Plecturocebus cupreus) - 1994
Red Uakari (Cacajao calvus rubicundus) - 1993
Silvery Marmoset (Mico argentatus) - ????
Spix's Moustached Tamarin (Saguinus mystax) - 1950s
Brown-mantled Tamarin (Leontocebus fuscicollis) - 2012
Uta Hicks' Bearded Saki (Chiropotes utahickae) - 1982
Western Black Tamarin (Saguinus niger) - 1950s
Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) - ????
White Uakari (Cacajao calvus calvus) - 2005
White-faced Capuchin (Cebus capucinus) - ????
White-faced Saki (Pithecia pithecia) - 2018
White-fronted Capuchin (Cebus albifrons) - ????
White-mantled Tamarin (Leontocebus weddelli melanoleucus) - 1980
White-nosed Bearded Saki (Chiropotes albinasus) - purebred 1988, impure 2001
White-whiskered Spider Monkey (Ateles marginatus) - ????
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing this Dave, very interesting indeed!
Wow! It seems that across the decades and at various times this zoo must have had one of the most complete and diverse collections of Neotropical primates anywhere in the world.
I previously posted this link elsewhere on ZooChat but I think it is relevant to this thread too so am also adding it again here.
neotropical primates from Cologne Zoo in Koenig Museum
There is an extremely interesting article about the neotropical primates from Cologne Zoo now in the Koenig Museum in Bonn.
This is especially interesting for those of us who remember when Cologne Zoo had a fine collection of uakaris and saki monkeys, as we probably saw many of the specimens detailed in this article when they were living in the zoo.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing Tim !
Interesting that so many of these individuals ended up as taxidermy specimens when they passed away.
I know that this practice of taxidermy does still happen in several Latin American zoos and that this was a historically norm in zoos across the world, however, out of curiosity how common is it in European zoos today to do this ?
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Back to the favourites, I found this very difficult! I have seen 12 species in the wild, 2 tamarins, 1 squirrel monkey, 3 capuchins, 3 howlers, 2 spider monkeys and a woolly monkey; of these, based on quality of views etc I’d pick Central American Spider Monkey, particularly those I saw at Xcaret last summer. For those I have seen in captivity, Goeldi’s Monkey, unique and expressive. For those I haven’t seen, Muriqui; other posters here have sold them very successfully, although it is a close victory over uakaris!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
12 species in the wild ! that is a pretty impressive list !
I'm curious, what tamarin species have you seen in the wild ? and was one of them the Geoffroy's tamarin by any chance?
Very much agree with you on the Goeldi's. I would add that these monkeys seem to be another underrated species in zoos. I have a pet "theory" of sorts that this maybe because they are one of the largest Callitrichid species and so don't have so much of that "cutesy" appeal that many of the smaller species have in buckets. The dark pelt also makes them blend into the shadows / foilage of an enclosure more and probably fails to make them visually stand out to visitors who seem to often pass on by.
For me personally the Goeldie's monkey is a really interesting species though because these primates are really quite an enigma (apart from the whole debate about where they fit amongst the Callitrichids taxonomically). There is a huge knowledge gap in what we know about the ecology and behaviour of the species in the wild in Bolivia and there is a definite need for more field studies to uncover more. Especially relevant regarding its conservation status and requirements.
For example, I read recently that this species has been observed to show a lot more mycophageous feeding behaviour than most other New World primates which I find really fascinating (interestingly the only other species known to consume significant amounts of fungi are the buffy headed and tufted marmosets here in Brazil).
To add to that, I just find them to be a very beautiful species, very shy and they have very large and expressive brown eyes. I remember happily watching the troop kept in the Clore Pavilion at ZSL for quite some time when I was in London last year.
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@Onychorhynchus coronatus This is very tough question! I don't think I can narrow it down to a single species. As much as I like white-footed tamarins, I grew up seeing soooo many that I never considered them as a rarity. I would still be delighted if I were able to see them in the wild. However my favorite species would probably be:
- Colombian Woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lugens)
- Golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)
- Pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor)
- Bald Uakari (Cacajao calvus)
- Monk Saki (Pithecia monachus)
- Ornate titi (Plecturocebus ornatus)
On a side note, this are the species I have been lucky enough to see in the wild:
Woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagothicha) - Amacayacu N.P
Red howler Monkey (Aloutta seniculus) - Amacayacu N.P, Tayrona N.P, Hato la aurora reserve
Monk Saki (Pithecia monachus) - Amacayacu N.P
Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri scireus) - Amacayacu N.P, Putumayo
Pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) - Marasha Nature Reserve (Peru)
Geoffroy’s spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) - Tikal (Guatemala)
Guatemalan black howler monkey (Aloutta pigra) - Tikal (Guatemala)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) - Rainforest Discovery Center (Panama)
- Colombian Woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lugens)
- Golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)
- Pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor)
- Bald Uakari (Cacajao calvus)
- Monk Saki (Pithecia monachus)
- Ornate titi (Plecturocebus ornatus)
On a side note, this are the species I have been lucky enough to see in the wild:
Woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagothicha) - Amacayacu N.P
Red howler Monkey (Aloutta seniculus) - Amacayacu N.P, Tayrona N.P, Hato la aurora reserve
Monk Saki (Pithecia monachus) - Amacayacu N.P
Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri scireus) - Amacayacu N.P, Putumayo
Pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) - Marasha Nature Reserve (Peru)
Geoffroy’s spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) - Tikal (Guatemala)
Guatemalan black howler monkey (Aloutta pigra) - Tikal (Guatemala)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) - Rainforest Discovery Center (Panama)
Hard to pick one of the species I've seen in captivity, but I will go for commom marmoset as I adopted an individual of the species (formerly "Sindbad", now "Cali") at the Dutch rescue center AAP.
Of the six species I have seen in the wild, I would pick the black-handed spider monkey as my favorite sightnings.
Of the six species I have seen in the wild, I would pick the black-handed spider monkey as my favorite sightnings.
My two Tamarins are Geoffroy’s and Weddell’s Saddle-back. The rest of the list is Black-capped Squirrel Monkey, Large-headed, Shock-headed and Panamanian White-faced Capuchins, Columbian Red, Mantled and Central American Black Howlers, Central American and Black Spider Monkeys and Grey Woolly Monkey.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I thought so as it seemed to me that you have spent quite a lot of time in Central America and Colombia.
Do you think you will try to see the cotton top tamarin and the white footed tamarin in the wild one day ? I must admit this is a bit of a personal goal of mine to see these species.
That is an interesting choice, common marmosets are fascinating creatures and that is brilliant to hear that you adopted one at a rescue centre. One thing that really interests me about them is how extremely adaptable and resilient they are when it comes to environmental changes.
That said, I must admit that I have some ambivalent feelings towards them too as they are an invasive species in this part of Brazil (obviously through no fault of their own) and are a driver of extinction of other Callithrix species through hybridisation.
Where did you see the spider monkey in the wild ?
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I’ve visited Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina, but not Colombia or yet Brazil. No particular plans for other primates, but will look out for any wherever I end up, hopefully Brazil and Guyana at least.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I know its hard to narrow down to a single species as there are just so many that are interesting in different ways and for different reasons.
It seems that the woolly monkeys are firm favourites on zoochat.
That is incredible to hear ! You mean in the sense of seeing large numbers of the white-footed tamarin in zoos / captivity?
Incredible list, thank you for sharing it, there are quite a few species on it that I myself would like to see in the wild and I certainly hope that I will one day.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
You should definitely consider a trip to both Brazil and Colombia as these are the most biodiverse countries of South America and there are literally so many species that you could tick off your life list over here.
Just need coronavirus to be less of a problem!
Emperor tamarins, they are the last pride of the german empire (and they are simply so cute)
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Interesting choice and reason
They do indeed have huge Willhelm Kaiser moustaches (but although they can be aggressive in intergroup encounters thankfully they are not Callitrichid millitarists). 
Yea, that was obviously a joke. But in general am I a big fan of tamarins, with their social structure and obviously cuteness. And in general "beared" animals. My favourite oldworld primate (besides gibbons) for example is the lion-tailed maquace for the exact reason. It is just how I like my animals.Interesting choice and reason