Golden-headedLion Tamarin

Distribution:Restricted coastal Brazil

Habitat:Lowland Forest

Height:Approx. 250mm

Weight:600g - 700g

Diet:Omnivorous

Fruit, nectar, insects.

Common Name: Golden-headed Lion TamarinScientific Name: Leontopithecus chrysomelas

ENDANGERED

Marmosets and tamarins come from all over South America andare some of the World’s smallest monkeys ranging from 100grams to 800 grams.

Like all monkeys marmosets and tamarins have a tail, one of theeasiest ways to tell the difference between monkeys and apes(gibbons, chimps, bonobos, orangs and gorilla).

Tamarins are diurnal (awake during the day and asleep atnight). During their waking hours these animals can beextremely vocal giving high pitched whistles and chirps tocommunicate with each other.

Golden-headed lion tamarins are now only found in a very smallcoastal part of Brazil where they inhabit lowland swamp andevergreen forest.

They get their name from the very distinctive golden ‘mane’around the necks. They are very similar to the golden liontamarin that has completely gold coloured fur.

Their diet is made up mostly of fruit, gum, nectar and insects.They will also eat small animals like frogs if they can catch them.

They live in mixed groups with all members of the groupcongregating in tree holes a night to sleep.