Mini Mustaches: Como Zoo Welcomes Two Baby Tamarins

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Even though the Como Zoo's two newborn Emperor Tamarin twins are just a week old and weigh as much as mini candy bars, they already have their signature wispy mustaches.

Zoo-goers can now go and see the little tamarins as they cling to the back of their brother, Franklin, at Como's Primate Building.

In a press release, the zoo said the newborns arrived last Wednesday to parents Lara and Roger.

The twins are thought to be boy and girl, but it can take weeks to positively determine a tamarin's gender.

The zoo says it will take name suggestions for the newborns next weekend during the Valentines-themed "Woo at the Zoo" event.

Most of the time, the twins will be on the back of their caretaking father. Young tamarins usually spend 6-7 weeks riding piggyback on their father or another male relative. They only see their mother for nursing.

Currently, the newborns weigh about 40 grams. When they're fully grown, they'll weigh a pound.

Como says that tamarins are rare in captivity, with only about 30 individuals in U.S. zoos.