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Lion tamarin

Lion tamarins[1][2]
Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Family:	Callitrichidae
Genus:	Leontopithecus Lesson, 1840
Type species
Leontopithecus makikina Lesson, 1840 = Simia rosalia Linnaeus, 1766
Species
Leontopithecus rosalia Leontopithecus chrysomelas Leontopithecus chrysopygus Leontopithecus caissara
Synonyms
Leontideus Cabrera, 1956 Leontocebus Elliot, 1913

The four speciesoflion tamarinsormaned marmosets make up the genus Leontopithecus. They are small New World monkeys named for the mane surrounding their face, similar to the mane of a lion.

Description[edit]

Living in the eastern rainforestsofBrazil, like all other callitrichids they are arboreal. 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^{[citation needed]}.

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.

Diurnal tree-dwellers, they sleep in tree cavities at night. They also seek shelter during the hottest part of the day.

Species list[edit]

The different species of lion tamarins are easily discernible from each other, based upon the coloration of their fur:^[1]

Genus Leontopithecus – Lesson, 1840 – four species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Golden lion tamarin	Leontopithecus rosalia (Linnaeus, 1766)	southeastern Brazil	Size: golden fur all over, mane sometimes darkening or black Habitat: Diet:	EN
Golden-headed lion tamarin	Leontopithecus chrysomelas (Kuhl, 1820)	Bahia, Brazil	Size: black fur with golden face, arms, and tail Habitat: Diet:	EN
Black lion tamarin or golden-rumped lion tamarin	Leontopithecus chrysopygus (Mikan, 1823)	São Paulo, Brazil	Size: black fur with a dark gold rump Habitat: Diet:	EN
Superagui lion tamarin or black-faced lion tamarin	Leontopithecus caissara Lorini & Persson, 1990	southeastern Brazil	Size: Habitat: golden fur with black face, arms, and tails Diet:	EN

Conservation[edit]

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.^{[citation needed]}

See also[edit]

• Tamarin, genus Saguinus

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikispecies has information related to Lion tamarin.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leontopithecus.

• http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/tamarin.html
• Primate Info Net Leontopithecus Factsheets^{[permanent dead link]}