Defense is a priority in a group, and when one tamarin is threatened the others will rush to its defense. Red-handed tamarins are territorial and can be aggressive, with sharp canines and claws instead of fingernails on all fingers and all but the large toe. They are arboreal and diurnal creatures that rest in the safety of the tree tops during the night. They are exceptional climbers and spend most of their time among the vines and branches of the trees. They are quick and agile and are superb jumpers known to jump distances of over 60 feet (18 m) from a tree to the ground with no sign of injury.