Golden-Handed Tamarin

Saguinus midas

The golden-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas), also called the red-handed tamarin, is a small New World monkey from the Guianas and parts of northern Brazil. Its dark body contrasts with bright orange to reddish hands and feet, and it moves quickly through trees using claws, leaps, and slender branches. Groups feed on fruit, insects, nectar, gums, and small animal prey, with cooperative care of infants typical of many tamarins.

Managed care is specialist primate work, usually in zoos or licensed facilities. Tamarins need warm complex enclosures with fine branches, nest boxes, visual privacy, and opportunities to forage, leap, and investigate. Diets combine formulated primate food, produce, insects, gum, and careful control of sugars and vitamin balance. Social housing must support pair or family structure while preventing aggression during introductions. Conservation attention includes forest protection, disease precautions, and avoiding the pet trade; small monkeys may look manageable, but their social and veterinary needs are not simple household care.