Surviving the dry season in the forest is no easy task, but cotton-top tamarins are expert adapters! With little to no rain for weeks, fruit becomes scarce, so these resourceful primates shift their diet to what’s available—munching on insects, tree exudates, and their seasonal favorite, the sweet nectar of the peinecillo flower (Combretum fruticosum).  

As they eagerly lap up the nectar, their tiny faces get dusted with pollen from the flower’s bottle brush-like structure. Without even realizing it, these accidental pollinators are playing a vital role in keeping the forest thriving! Watch this video to see a cotton-top in action, doing his part to support the natural cycle of the forest