Fact Sheet : GOLDEN LION TAMARIN
Order: Primates
Family: Callitrichicae
What do golden lion tamarins look like?
Golden lion tamarins are 34 to 40 cm long, with a tail 26 to 38 cm long. They weigh between 630 and 710 g. They are golden orange in color, with very long, narrow hands, extremely long fingers, and clawed digits on their hands and feet. Only the big toe of each foot has a nail. Their furry tail is not intended for hanging onto things. They have a shaggy, lion-like mane surrounding the face; hence, the name. There is no physical difference between males and females.
Where in the world can you find golden lion tamarins?
Golden lion tamarins are found in Brazil, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. They live in the Atlantic coastal rain forest. They usually inhabit trees at heights of 3 to 10 m.
How do golden lion tamarins move?
Golden lion tamarins move in a variety of ways. They often leap from tree to tree. When they travel they usually walk on all four appendages. In trees, they leap vertically from one level to the next.
What do golden lion tamarins eat?
Insects make up 30% of their diet, 55% is fruit, and the rest is small animal prey. Sometimes they find food in tree branches or vines. They also search for food in clumps of dead leaves, in fresh leaves, along branches, and in holes and crevices in branches and tree trunks. When they forage (look for food), they usually squat, moving the food around with their long hands.
What kind of activity can I expect to see?
Golden lion tamarins are active during the day. Their peak feeding time is in the morning. They spend a great deal of their time foraging for food. At the zoo, they usually rest between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. They are active again in the late afternoon and are asleep by 5:00 p.m. Rest time is also social time since they squeeze into the nest box and frequently groom each other.
What kind of social behavior can I see?
There is usually only one breeding male in a group. They have only one mate. They communicate with long and short high-pitched calls and bird-like twitters or clicks. A mother cares for the young for the first four to 10 days, then the father carries the young and returns them to the mother to nurse. In a family group, older siblings also take turns carrying an infant. Females are ready for reproduction at 18 months; males at 24 months. Females are
pregnant for 128 days and usually have a litter of two.
How do golden lion tamarins behave in the wild?
Wild golden lion tamarins spend almost a third of their day traveling, almost half foraging and eating, nearly 20% resting, and the remainder socializing and defending their territory.
Are golden lion tamarins endangered animals?
Golden lion tamarins are extremely endangered. They are the most endangered primate at Brookfield Zoo. Among zoos, they were the first animals to be cooperatively managed in captivity, then introduced into the wild—all for the sake of preserving the species.
What kinds of things will I see in the exhibit?
The golden lion tamarins are close to the walkway, so you’ll be able to see the animals well.