Lion Tamarins

Family: Callitrichidae

Known locally as: mico-leão

Quick Facts: Found only in the Atlantic Rainforests of Brazil, these tiny monkeys are critically endagered. Captive breeding, managed wild breeding, translocations, and re-introduction are some of the strategies being used to save lion tamarins. Lion Tamarin Species: black lion tamarin golden lion tamarin black-faced lion tamarin golden-headed lion tamarin What do lion tamarins sound like? Use these controls to play the sound clip and adjust the volume. Other Tamarins emperor tamarin Ask Claudio and Suzana Padua for more information about tamarins.

Vocabulary Words: deforestation, arboreal, diurnal
Physical Appearance: Slightly smaller than squirrels, tamarins are commonly called "kings of the jungle" because manes around their faces make them look like lions. All of the species (members) of this family have claws that they use to dig under bark to gather meals of insects.
Adaptations: The Lion Tamarins are related to Marmosets. They are about 12 inches tall not including the tail which can be up to 17 inches long, and weigh up to 2 pounds. Tamarins jump through trees using their fingers to hold onto branches.
Reproductive Cycle and Family Habits: Tamarins live in family groups. Parents mate once a year producing two offspring (babies) per birth. The older twins stay a long time with their family helping their parents take care of the children. Both parents care for new-borns. The father takes care of the tiny babies by carrying them on his back. Mothers nurse babies every two to three hours.
Habitat: Tamarins live in Eastern forests of Brazil. These forests once covered one million square miles, but because of deforestation 90% of their home is cleared. Lion tamarins only live in this part of the world because they are arboreal (preferring dense vegetation of the rainforest).
Threats to Survival: Lion tamarins are losing their homes because of habitat destruction. This part of Brazil was one of the first areas to be colonized. Crowding in the surrounding cities makes people want to move to rural areas, the rainforest. New rainforest settlers trying to make a living as farmers clear rainforest, the home of tamarins, to grow cash crops. Agriculture, industry and urban expansion all threaten the habitats of lion tamarins.
Behavior: Tamarins are diurnal, meaning they like to seek shelter for the night in tree cavities. They are sensitive to direct sunlight, so during the hottest part of the day they stay in the dense vegetation of the rainforest.
Diet: Tamarins are omnivores, meaning they like to eat both plants and animals. They spend a lot of their day looking for their favorite foods like small fruits, insects like wild roaches, and even small lizards and snakes.

Language: Tamarins talk to each other by thrills, whines and clucks.
Predators (animals who hunt for tamarins): Black-hawk eagle, ornate hawk-eagle, jaguar, jaguarundi, ocelot, and tayra.