Golden lion tamarin (Brazil)

  

The golden lion tamarin (photo by Eva Shveda). Curitiba Zoo (Brazil, Paraná)

I really liked this agile little animal when I visited the zoo in Curitiba, Brazil. It was very difficult to photograph him because the primates stay behind two layers of netting and this species of monkey is very agile.  But I still took pictures and decided to write about this incredible animal.  Unfortunately, it is an endangered species due to the deforestation of Brazil's Atlantic Forest.

The golden lion tamarin (photo by Eva Shveda). Curitiba Zoo (Brazil, Paraná)

The golden lion tamarin is a primate endemic to Brazil, belonging to the Callitrichidae family and the Leontopithecus genus. Scientific name: Leontopithecus rosalia. It occurs exclusively in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

The golden lion tamarin (photo by Eva Shveda). Curitiba Zoo (Brazil, Paraná)

The golden lion tamarin has a reddish to golden coat, which gave it its popular name, and has a mane of hair coming out of its cheeks, head, neck and covering its ears. It is believed that this coat color is due to the intake of carotenoids and exposure to sunlight: some animals in captivity have a lighter color, and this is probably due to a diet deficient in carotenoids.

The golden lion tamarin (photo by Eva Shveda). Curitiba Zoo (Brazil, Paraná)

The devastation of the Atlantic Forest has almost wiped out the entire population of golden lion tamarins. Originally, the species was found all along the coast of Rio de Janeiro, reaching as far as Espírito Santo. With the intense occupation of the coastal zone in the state, accompanied by logging and farming activities, and the consequent destruction of the forest, the tamarins are now confined to around 20 forest fragments. The researchers say that for the golden lion tamarin to be removed from the list of endangered species, there must be around 2,000 individuals living in the wild in an area of 25,000 hectares of forest by 2025. Currently, wild populations do not number even 1,000 individuals. The golden lion tamarin is a flagship species in the conservation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

The golden lion tamarin (photo by Eva Shveda). Curitiba Zoo (Brazil, Paraná)

Currently, lion tamarins are found mainly in the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve and the União Biological Reserve, and live in the higher strata of the forest. It is 26 cm long without its tail and weighs 620 g on average. Animals bred in captivity can reach 800 g, which is the largest size among the Callitrichinae. It lives for around eight years, has diurnal habits and at night sleeps in tree hollows or tangles of vines and bromeliads. It feeds on fruit, invertebrate animals and small vertebrates. Some studies show that the golden lion tamarin eats more than 60 species of plants and, after digesting them, helps disperse their seeds throughout the environment. They are diurnal animals and very active in the early hours of the morning. They live in groups of up to 9 individuals, organized into family groups. There is no differentiation in color or size between males and females. They give birth to twins after a gestation period of 130 days. They have a varied repertoire of vocalizations, which are emitted in specific contexts.

The golden lion tamarin (photo by Eva Shveda). Curitiba Zoo (Brazil, Paraná)

It has claws instead of nails and its third finger is very long and used to search for prey. The middle finger is so long that it is almost twice as long as the palm of the hand. Used to search for small vertebrates and arthropods in narrow holes and crevices.

Take care of nature and treat the world around you with love!