| Range: |
Eastern Brazil |
| Habitat: |
Forests, swamps |
| Conservation Status: |
Endangered |
| Scientific Name: |
Leontopithecus chrysomelas |
These tiny, beautiful monkeys are found only in the remnants of the humid forest near Bahia, Brazil. Family groups of five to seven animals spend the day in search of tasty fruits, insects and other small animals to eat. At night they sleep together in the hollow of a tree. Tamarins often express their friendship for each other by sitting in a huddle and grooming one another. Adult golden-headed lion tamarins weigh only 20 to 24 ounces. Females give birth to twins, but after ten days the fathers carry the babies most of the time. The young stay with their parents through the rearing of several litters and they help with childcare. Did You Know?Zoos have created a single worldwide breeding program to ensure this species' survival. All of the individuals you see in zoos are still owned by the Brazilian government.
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