# golden-headed lion tamarin (*Leontopithecus chrysomelas*) The golden-headed lion tamarin is a small monkey with a bright golden mane! These playful creatures love to swing through the trees and are found in the beautiful forests of Brazil. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![golden-headed lion tamarin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Golden-headed_Lion_Tamarin_095.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden-headed_Lion_Tamarin_095.jpg) ## Appearance The golden-headed lion tamarin has a striking coat with a vibrant golden head, neck, and forelimbs that contrast sharply with its glossy black body, hind limbs, and tail. Its long, flowing golden mane gives it a regal appearance, making it easily distinguishable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Callitrichidae - **Genus:** Leontopithecus ## Interesting facts - Dad tamarins often carry their babies on their backs, giving mom a break! - Each family group has its own special 'song' to chat with nearby tamarin families. - Their sticky tongues are perfect for lapping up sweet tree sap and nectar! - They sleep huddled together in tree holes or dense vines to keep warm and safe. ## Special abilities - **Arboreal Acrobatics:** golden-headed lion tamarin can leap between trees because of strong legs and gripping claws, helping them navigate their forest home with ease. - **Nimble Foragers:** golden-headed lion tamarin can use their long, slender fingers to probe into crevices because of their specialized hand structure, helping them extract hidden insects and nectar. - **Vocal Communicators:** golden-headed lion tamarin can make distinct whistles and trills because of their vocal cords, helping them warn their family of danger or find each other. - **Sunbathing Energy Boost:** golden-headed lion tamarin has dark fur on its body that helps them absorb warmth from the sun, giving them energy for the day. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-34 cm - **Weight:** 0.36-0.71 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 125-132 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny monkeys love to munch on a mix of juicy fruits, sweet nectar, tasty insects, and small animals. - **Primary Foods:** fruits, insects, nectar, tree sap, spiders, small lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Oncilla (*Leopardus tigrinus*) — Hunted by this small wild cat. - **Eaten by:** Great Black Hawk (*Buteogallus urubitinga*) — Preyed upon by this powerful bird of prey. - **Depends on:** Shortleaf Fig (*Ficus citrifolia*) — Disperses seeds after eating its fruits. - **Hunts:** [Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-cricket) (*Gryllus assimilis*) — Eats this cricket and other small invertebrates. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch animals from a distance and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify golden-headed lion tamarin? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is golden-headed lion tamarin? 20-34 cm ### How much does golden-headed lion tamarin weigh? 0.36-0.71 kg ### How long does golden-headed lion tamarin live? 8-15 years ### How fast can golden-headed lion tamarin move? 15 km/h ### What does golden-headed lion tamarin eat? These tiny monkeys love to munch on a mix of juicy fruits, sweet nectar, tasty insects, and small animals. ### Where is golden-headed lion tamarin usually found? Forests ### How does golden-headed lion tamarin hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birmingham-wildlife-conservation-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Grüner Zoo Wuppertal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gruner-zoo-wuppertal) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturschutz-tierpark-g-rlitz) — Saxony, DE · Zoo - [Luisenpark Mannheim](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luisenpark-mannheim) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Tropenhaus Bansin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tropenhaus-bansin) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo [View all places to see golden-headed lion tamarin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/golden-headed-lion-tamarin) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Golden-headed Lion Tamarin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-headed-lion-tamarin)