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Lion tamarin
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<h2 id="description">Description</h2> <p>Living in the <a href="/facts/Atlantic_Forest/QwYmzhVA">eastern rainforests</a> of <a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL">Brazil</a>, like all other <a href="/facts/Callitrichidae/eVbVYVl7">callitrichids</a> they are <a href="/facts/Arboreal/6C5AeQ2y">arboreal</a>. Lion tamarins weigh up to 900 grams (32 oz) and are about 30 cm (12 in) long, with tails about 45 cm (18 in) long. They jump through trees using their fingers to hold on to branches; they use their claws to dig under the bark to search for insects to eat. They also eat some snakes, small lizards, and small fruits. All are endangered or critically endangered, in part because their habitat has been severely disrupted by human development and climate change.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p><p>Lion tamarins tend to live in family groups, with both parents sharing different tasks of rearing the yearly twins born to them. The mother nurses her young every two to three hours, and the father carries the babies on his back. </p><p><a href="/facts/Diurnal_animal/GgXnXvN7">Diurnal</a> tree-dwellers, they sleep in tree cavities at night. They also seek shelter during the hottest part of the day. </p> <h2 id="species-list">Species list</h2> <p>The different species of lion tamarins are easily discernible from each other, based upon the coloration of their fur:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> Genus <i>Leontopithecus </i> – <a href="/facts/Rene_Primevere_Lesson/8aE7n02b">Lesson</a>, 1840 – four species<table><tbody><tr><th scope="col">Common name</th><th scope="col">Scientific name and subspecies</th><th scope="col">Range</th><th scope="col">Size and ecology</th><th scope="col">IUCN status and estimated population</th></tr><tr><th scope="row">Golden lion tamarin</th><td><i><a href="/facts/Leontopithecus_rosalia/BUGIhbdB">Leontopithecus rosalia</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1766)</td><td>southeastern Brazil</td><td><i>Size</i>: golden fur all over, mane sometimes darkening or black<i>Habitat</i>: <i>Diet</i>:</td><td><a href="/facts/Endangered_species/L7cIweSW"> EN </a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Golden-headed lion tamarin</th><td><i><a href="/facts/Leontopithecus_chrysomelas/CERJsA9J">Leontopithecus chrysomelas</a></i> (Kuhl, 1820)</td><td>Bahia, Brazil</td><td><i>Size</i>: black fur with golden face, arms, and tail<i>Habitat</i>: <i>Diet</i>:</td><td><a href="/facts/Endangered_species/L7cIweSW"> EN </a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/Black_lion_tamarin/C8FHn0LY">Black lion tamarin</a> or golden-rumped lion tamarin</th><td><i><a href="/facts/Leontopithecus_chrysopygus/C8FHn0LY">Leontopithecus chrysopygus</a></i> (Mikan, 1823)</td><td>São Paulo, Brazil</td><td><i>Size</i>: black fur with a dark gold rump<i>Habitat</i>: <i>Diet</i>:</td><td><a href="/facts/Endangered_species/L7cIweSW"> EN </a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/Superagui_lion_tamarin/cjIpN4nN">Superagui lion tamarin</a> or black-faced lion tamarin</th><td><i><a href="/facts/Leontopithecus_caissara/cjIpN4nN">Leontopithecus caissara</a></i> Lorini & Persson, 1990</td><td>southeastern Brazil</td><td><i>Size</i>: <i>Habitat</i>: golden fur with black face, arms, and tails<i>Diet</i>:</td><td><a href="/facts/Endangered_species/L7cIweSW"> EN </a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="conservation">Conservation</h2> <p>Climate change has been affecting the lion tamarins in that cocoa production has taken over their habitat. Mass produced cocoa has been found to thin out surrounding canopy trees in the area. These trees are where lion tamarins mostly reside throughout the day. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Tamarin/XsAXcdUR">Tamarin</a>, genus <i>Saguinus</i></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/tamarin.html">http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/tamarin.html</a></li> <li><a href="http://pin.primiate.wisc.edu/factsheets/links/leontopithecus">Primate Info Net <i>Leontopithecus</i> Factsheets</a>[<i>permanent dead link</i>]</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Conservation of the golden-headed lion tamarin in a changing climate". stories.ecmwf.int. Retrieved 2024-11-16. <a href="https://stories.ecmwf.int/conservation-of-the-golden-headed-lion-tamarin-in-a-changing-climate/index.html#:~:text=Some%20may%20even%20be%20at,to%20climate%20change%20remains%20unclear." target="_blank">https://stories.ecmwf.int/conservation-of-the-golden-headed-lion-tamarin-in-a-changing-climate/index.html#:~:text=Some%20may%20even%20be%20at,to%20climate%20change%20remains%20unclear.</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 133. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494. <a href="0-801-88221-4" target="_blank">0-801-88221-4</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>