Golden lion tamarin

Leontopithecus rosalia

Species Information
Exhibit Name and Location Upland Tropical Rain Forest – Main Building, Level 5
Description of Animal This tree-dwelling monkey has a small, rounded head surrounded by a thick, golden, lion-like mane that obscures its large ears. The body and tail are covered with long, silky hair, ranging in color from pale blond to reddish gold, with occasional orange, brown or black coloration on the tail and forefeet. The nearly bare face ranges from pale beige to nearly black. The soft, leathery soles of the hands and feet are black. These animals have extremely long toes and fingers that end in claws. Only the hallux (big toe) has a nail. Long digits and claws help these monkeys to grab branches and probe crevices in tree bark for insects and spiders. Tamarins live in monogamous family units of two to eight, consisting of a breeding pair, their offspring from one or two litters, and perhaps other extended family members. Twin births are the norm, and all family members help rear the infants.
Aquarist's Note When you enter the Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, look to the left and up over the arch. This is the best place to spot these monkeys because they are fed in this area. They also scamper along the vines in other parts of the forest. Part of the keeper’s job is to help monitor animal health. We are always seeking ways to make things easier for both the animals and ourselves. We are currently training our tamarins to sit on a scale so that we can easily monitor their weight.
Diet Lion tamarins in the wild eat fruit, flowers, insects, spiders, snails, and occasionally small vertebrates (lizards, frogs, hatchling birds, and bird eggs). At the Aquarium, they are fed three meals a day consisting of a commercial diet plus sweet fruit, carrots, insects, eggs, and yogurt.
Size The average adult weighs about 1½ pounds (710 g) and has a 10 inch long (26 cm) body with a 15 inch long (37 cm) tail.
Range Most of the coastal rain forest in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo—where this species formerly lived—has been lost to development. These monkeys are now found in only a few scattered remnant forests in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Population Status The golden lion tamarin is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Only about 800 are left in the wild, and about 30% of these were either relocated from depleted areas or released as part of a reintroduction program. The primary threats to this species’ survival is continued loss of forest habitat and population fragmentation due to agriculture and urban and resort development. Several public and private reserves for lion tamarins have been established in Brazil in an effort to preserve this imperiled species. The tamarins at the Aquarium, a non-breeding pair, are part of a group managed by the International Cooperative Research and Management Committee, which is headquartered at the National Zoo (Smithsonian Institution). This group oversees the management of both the wild population of golden lion tamarins in Brazil and the captive population worldwide. The goals of the group are to protect and increase the wild population and to create and maintain a stable, genetically viable captive population of 500 animals. As of late December 2002, 433 tamarins were distributed among 152 participating zoological institutions.
Predators The primary predators are birds of prey, snakes, and small carnivores such as coatis and margay. Humans hunt tamarins illegally for their meat as well as for pets.

Species Information

Exhibit Name and Location
Upland Tropical Rain Forest – Main Building, Level 5

Description of Animal

This tree-dwelling monkey has a small, rounded head surrounded by a thick, golden, lion-like mane that obscures its large ears.

The body and tail are covered with long, silky hair, ranging in color from pale blond to reddish gold, with occasional orange, brown or black coloration on the tail and forefeet.

The nearly bare face ranges from pale beige to nearly black. The soft, leathery soles of the hands and feet are black.

These animals have extremely long toes and fingers that end in claws. Only the hallux (big toe) has a nail. Long digits and claws help these monkeys to grab branches and probe crevices in tree bark for insects and spiders.

Tamarins live in monogamous family units of two to eight, consisting of a breeding pair, their offspring from one or two litters, and perhaps other extended family members.

Twin births are the norm, and all family members help rear the infants.

Aquarist's Note

When you enter the Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, look to the left and up over the arch. This is the best place to spot these monkeys because they are fed in this area. They also scamper along the vines in other parts of the forest.

Part of the keeper’s job is to help monitor animal health. We are always seeking ways to make things easier for both the animals and ourselves.

We are currently training our tamarins to sit on a scale so that we can easily monitor their weight.

Diet

Lion tamarins in the wild eat fruit, flowers, insects, spiders, snails, and occasionally small vertebrates (lizards, frogs, hatchling birds, and bird eggs).

At the Aquarium, they are fed three meals a day consisting of a commercial diet plus sweet fruit, carrots, insects, eggs, and yogurt.

Size

The average adult weighs about 1½ pounds (710 g) and has a 10 inch long (26 cm) body with a 15 inch long (37 cm) tail.

Range

Most of the coastal rain forest in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo—where this species formerly lived—has been lost to development.

These monkeys are now found in only a few scattered remnant forests in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Population Status

The golden lion tamarin is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Only about 800 are left in the wild, and about 30% of these were either relocated from depleted areas or released as part of a reintroduction program.

The primary threats to this species’ survival is continued loss of forest habitat and population fragmentation due to agriculture and urban and resort development.

Several public and private reserves for lion tamarins have been established in Brazil in an effort to preserve this imperiled species.

The tamarins at the Aquarium, a non-breeding pair, are part of a group managed by the International Cooperative Research and Management Committee, which is headquartered at the National Zoo (Smithsonian Institution).

This group oversees the management of both the wild population of golden lion tamarins in Brazil and the captive population worldwide.

The goals of the group are to protect and increase the wild population and to create and maintain a stable, genetically viable captive population of 500 animals.

As of late December 2002, 433 tamarins were distributed among 152 participating zoological institutions.

Predators

The primary predators are birds of prey, snakes, and small carnivores such as coatis and margay.

Humans hunt tamarins illegally for their meat as well as for pets.