Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus Rosalia Rosalia)
Description:
Weight: 1 1/2 pounds Head and body length: 11-16 inches in length Tail: 10-15 inches in length Color: light blonde-orange to dark orange with a lion-like mane surrounding the face. Habitat: High in the treetops (canopy) of primal forests (forests that have not been disturbed by humans). Range: Coastal forests of South America, near Rio Sao Joao, and the Poco d’Anta Reserve in Brazil. Diet: Omnivorous – fruit, flowers, insects, small vertebrates, tree gum, nectars and bird eggs. Life Span: 10-12 years in the wild, 15 years or more in captivity. Status: Endangered |
These inquisitive animals spend their day foraging for food and looking for snack treats the zookeepers hide throughout the exhibit. The monkeys are exhibited with red-footed tortoise because they share habitat in the wild.
Next time you’re at the zoo, compare the Golden-lion Tamarins with other monkey species – the Howler monkeys, pygmy marmosets and pale-faced saki – that are also in the rainforest building. How are they alike? How are they different? |
Rainforest Building open daily from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm