Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Primates
FAMILY: Callitrichidae
SIZE:
Body length approximately 1 foot
RANGE:
Brazilian rain forests
HABITAT:
Tree tops in rain forests
DIET:
Wild - Fruits, insects
Zoo - Fruits, vegetables, insects
DESCRIPTION:
Head and body length about 8-13 inches
Tail about 12-16 inches in length
Adult weight is 1.2 lbs.
Pelage (coat) is long and silky
Name "lion" refers to the mane of hair on shoulders
Coat is gold, reddish, or buffy to white
ADAPTATIONS:
Swift; long limbs and partially webbed fingers enable them to travel with amazing speed through dense jungle canopy.
YOUNG:
Litters of one, two, or three born from January to June; born fully furred, with eyes open and weighing about two ounces. Father is the principal carrier of the newborn after about the third week of life. Juvenile family members also care for the infants.
STATUS:
CITES App. I; Tamarins are extremely ENDANGERED. Their numbers have declined because of habitat destruction and because of mass exportation for laboratory use and pet trade. Zoos are involved in release programs for golden lion tamarins.
REFERENCE:
"Walker's Mammals of the World", Vol., Ronald M. Nowak
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