golden lion tamarin facts

February 6, 2010 | In: Animal facts for kids

The Golden Lion Tamarin is also known as Golden Marmoset.

This lion tamarin is a reddish orange to golden brown in color. The tail and forepaws of this monkey may have a black coloration.

Its body may be up to 335 millimetres (13.2 in) long and its tail up to 400 millimetres (16 in). Weight:
14 to 29 oz (400 to 800 g.)

The golden lion tamarin is diurnal and predominantly arboreal.

Average life span in the wild:15 years . Longevity record: 31 years.

One of the defining characteristics of callitrichids is their specialized nails which aid in their feeding behaviors and locomotion.

They live in small family groups of about 4 or 5 animals, consisting of a breeding pair and their youngest offspring.

Golden lion tamarins are omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, and small lizards.

The Golden Lion Tamarin is an endangered species with an estimated wild population of “more than 1,000 individuals .

Most of the wild population is confined to the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve, a protected area of swampy forests in the state of Rio de Janeiro.