Golden-headed Lion Tamarin Illustration © Bruce Pearson

Golden-headed Lion TamarinLeontopithecus chrysomelas

With a long, golden lion-like mane around its face the Golden-headed Lion Tamarin is suitably named. About the same size as a squirrel, they can grow up to 30 cm long (females are usually slightly larger) plus a tail of approx. 35 cm; the body is predominantly black with golden-orange limbs and males and females are similar in appearence. They have sharp claws (unusual in primates as most others have nails), that they use for climbing and catching prey. Their food consists mainly of insects and lizards, as well as soft fruit. When threatened they will fluff up their fur to make themselves appear bigger than they really are, to ward off predators.

The Golden-headed Lion Tamarin, once found widely across eastern Brazil, today only survives in small isolated populations in eastern Brazil. It is estimated that only 2-5% of their original habitat remains as a result of defoestation for timber, charcoal and agriculture. In addition this primate also suffers from predators like ocelots, snakes and hawks; it has also been widely collected in the past for the pet trade.

The Golden-headed Lion Tamarin is classified as Endangered by IUCN (See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Golden-headed Lion Tamarin).

Help Protect the Golden-headed Lion Tamarin and Other Wildlife in Brazil

The World Land Trust's project in the Atlantic Rainforest In Brazil protects the habitat of Golden-headed Lion Tamarins, and other threatened wildlife. Please help protect this area by supporting the Brazilian Rainforest Project.

More Information about Golden-headed Lion Tamarins and Their Habitat

• Read more about WLT's work in Brazil
• Find more information on the Golden-headed Lion Tamarin on ARKive: Images of life on Earth