Emperor tamarins are found in the southwest Amazon Basin. The countries of their origin are southeast Peru, northwest Bolivia, and northwest Brazil. River drainage in Peru such as the Acre, Purus, and Jurua have populations of emperor tamarins. They are very light-weighted, so they can reach food at the far end of tree branches, which are unaccessable by heavier animals, including predators.
The emperor tamarins display a need for tenderness when kept as a pet. They love to be stroked by hand and will actually lay on their backs in hopes of extra petting attention. The Emperor Tamarin lives together in groups of two to eight animals. The oldest female leads the group above several mature males. Mutual grooming plays an important role for bonding and socializing.
