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 species of lion tamarins or maned 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

Living in the eastern rainforests of Brazil, 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.

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

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

Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution	Description
Leontopithecus rosalia	Golden lion tamarin	southeastern Brazil	golden fur all over, mane sometimes darkening or black
Leontopithecus chrysomelas	Golden-headed lion tamarin	Bahia, Brazil	black fur with golden face, arms, and tail
Leontopithecus chrysopygus	Black lion tamarin or golden-rumped lion tamarin	São Paulo, Brazil	black fur with a dark gold rump
Leontopithecus caissara	Superagui lion tamarin or black-faced lion tamarin	southeastern Brazil	golden fur with black face, arms, and tails

Conservation

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 resign throughout the day.

References

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.
Rylands AB, Mittermeier RA (2009). "The Diversity of the New World Primates (Platyrrhini)". In Garber PA, Estrada A, Bicca-Marques JC, Heymann EW, Strier KB (eds.). South American Primates: Comparative Perspectives in the Study of Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Springer. pp. 23–54. ISBN 978-0-387-78704-6.

External links

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[msw3-1] 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.

[SAP-2] Rylands AB, Mittermeier RA (2009). "The Diversity of the New World Primates (Platyrrhini)". In Garber PA, Estrada A, Bicca-Marques JC, Heymann EW, Strier KB (eds.). South American Primates: Comparative Perspectives in the Study of Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Springer. pp. 23–54. ISBN 978-0-387-78704-6.