# golden lion tamarin (*Leontopithecus rosalia*) The golden lion tamarin is a small monkey with bright orange-golden fur and a playful personality. They live in family groups and love to swing through the trees in their forest homes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Golden Tamarin ![golden lion tamarin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Golden_lion_tamarin_portrait3.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jeroen Kransen, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden_lion_tamarin_portrait3.jpg) ## Appearance The golden lion tamarin has stunning, long, silky reddish-orange fur that forms a distinct mane around its dark, expressive face. Its vibrant, uniform golden color makes it visually unique among small monkeys, resembling a tiny lion. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Callitrichidae - **Genus:** Leontopithecus ## Interesting facts - Golden lion tamarins sleep nestled in tree hollows at night to hide from hungry predators! - Their scientific name, Leontopithecus, means 'lion ape', perfectly describing their appearance! - They live up to 15 years in the wild, a long lifespan for such a small primate! - They share food with family, even offering tasty treats to younger siblings and mates! ## Special abilities - **Forest Flyer:** The golden lion tamarin can leap over 5 meters between trees, helping it escape predators and quickly find new food. - **Team Parents:** Golden lion tamarin families have older siblings that help carry and care for babies, which shares the parenting load. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-33 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-0.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 125-132 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny omnivores munch on juicy fruits, sweet nectar, and lots of yummy insects found in the forest! - **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Insects (crickets, spiders, ants), Nectar, Small lizards, Snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Jararaca pit viper (*Bothrops jararaca*) — Hunts them from the forest floor and lower branches. - **Depends on:** Shortleaf Fig (*Ficus citrifolia*) — Disperses its seeds after eating the sugary fruit. - **Eaten by:** Oncilla (*Leopardus tigrinus*) — One of their natural predators in the rainforest canopy. - **Depends on:** Açaí Palm (*Euterpe oleracea*) — Eats its berries, helping to spread the seeds. - **Eats:** Leaf-cutter Ant (*Atta cephalotes*) — Consumes these ants and their larvae from nests. ## 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. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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 from a distance and do not disturb wild animals in their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify golden 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 lion tamarin? 20-33 cm ### How much does golden lion tamarin weigh? 0.5-0.7 kg ### How long does golden lion tamarin live? 10-15 years ### How fast can golden lion tamarin move? 25 km/h ### What does golden lion tamarin eat? These tiny omnivores munch on juicy fruits, sweet nectar, and lots of yummy insects found in the forest! ### Where is golden lion tamarin usually found? Forests ### How does golden lion tamarin hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Belfast Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belfast-zoo) — Northern Ireland, GB · Zoo - [Brandywine Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandywine-zoo) — Delaware, US · Zoo - [Caldwell Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caldwell-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Philadelphia Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/philadelphia-zoo) — Pennsylvania, US · Zoo - [Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/connecticuts-beardsley-zoo) — Connecticut, US · Zoo - [Santa Ana Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/santa-ana-zoo) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see golden lion tamarin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/golden-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 Lion Tamarin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-lion-tamarin)