VU

Black-handed Tamarin

Saguinus niger

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The black tamarin faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in the Brazilian Amazon. Mining activities, particularly gold mining, have contaminated waterways and destroyed critical forest corridors. Agricultural expansion for cattle ranching and soy cultivation continues to reduce available habitat, while the species' small population size makes it vulnerable to local extinctions from hunting pressure and disease outbreaks.

Threat summary

Habitat

Black tamarins inhabit primary and secondary rainforest canopies in the Brazilian Amazon, preferring areas with dense vegetation and continuous forest cover. They occupy territories in both terra firme and várzea forests, requiring large trees for sleeping sites and diverse plant species for their omnivorous diet.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical swamp· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Black-handed Tamarin classified as Vulnerable?
Black-handed Tamarin is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The black tamarin faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in the Brazilian Amazon. Mining activities, particularly gold mining, have contaminated waterways and destroyed critical forest corridors. Agricultural expansion for cattle ranching and soy cultivation continues to reduce available habitat, while the species' small population size makes it vulnerable to local extinctions from hunting pressure and disease outbreaks.
Where does Black-handed Tamarin live?
Black-handed Tamarin occurs in Brazil. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Black-handed Tamarin?
The main threats to Black-handed Tamarin are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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