This saddle-back tamarin lives in lowland forests of Peru. Its mottled back, black crown, and reddish-orange rump help describe its appearance.
The short mantle and outer arms are chestnut, the forehead and crown are black, and the saddle is mottled black and gray or buff to ochre. The rump and thighs are reddish orange.
A study along the Río Pacaya followed one troop recorded under the former name Saguinus fuscicollis illigeri. That troop often used treefall areas and spent much of its time in the lower forest strata.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.