Lion tamarin

Taxobox
name = Lion tamarinsMSW3 Groves|pages=133]


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Golden Lion Tamarin ("Leontopithecus rosalia")
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Primates
familia = Cebidae
subfamilia = Callitrichinae
genus = "Leontopithecus"
genus_authority = Lesson, 1840
type_species = "Leontopithecus makikina"
type_species_authority = Lesson, 1840 = "Simia rosalia" Linnaeus, 1766
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Leontopithecus rosalia"
"Leontopithecus chrysomelas"
"Leontopithecus chrysopygus"
"Leontopithecus caissara"

The four species of lion tamarins make up the genus "Leontopithecus". They are small New World monkeys named for the mane surrounding their face. Living in the eastern rainforests of Brazil, like all other callitrichines they are arboreal. Lion tamarins weigh up to 900 grams (2 pounds) and are about 30 cm (12 inches) long, with tails about 45 cm (17 inches) long. They jump through trees using their fingers to hold onto branches and their claws to dig under the bark to search for insects to eat. They also eat some snakes, small lizards and small fruits.

Lion tamarins tend to live in family groups, with both parents sharing different tasks of child-rearing the yearly twins. The mother nurses her young every two to three hours, and the father carries the babies on his back.

Diurnal tree-dwellers, they sleep in tree cavities at night, and also seek shelter during the hottest part of the day.

pecies list

The different species of lion tamarins are easily discernible from each other, based upon the coloration of their fur:
*Golden Lion Tamarin, "L. rosalia " — golden fur all over, mane sometimes darkening or black
*Golden-headed Lion Tamarin, "L. chrysomelas " — black fur with golden face, arms, and tail
*Black or Golden-rumped Lion Tamarin, "L. chrysopygus" — black fur with a dark gold rump
*Superagui or Black-faced Lion Tamarin, "L. caissara" — golden fur with black face, arms, and tails

References

ee also

*Tamarin, genus "Saguinus"

External links

* http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/tamarin.html
* [http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/links/leontopithecus Primate Info Net "Leontopithecus" Factsheets]