Golden-headed Lion Tamarin
Scientific Name
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Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Golden-headed lion tamarins are small primates named for the bright-gold mane around their head, which contrasts sharply with their dark body. They spend almost all their time in the rainforest canopy, where they feed primarily on fruit and insects. Golden-headed lion tamarins live in groups consisting of a breeding pair and their young offspring. Individuals communicate with vocalizations as they forage for food.
Interesting Fact 1
Golden-headed lion tamarins consume indegestible fruit seeds and then re-deposit them in new locations during defecation, which helps plants spread across the rainfoest.
Interesting Fact 2
Adults are territorial and will attempt to drive other tamarins away by raising their mane and fluffing their coat to appear larger.
Interesting Fact 3
They use long calls to bond with other tamarins, clicks to signal foraging, and whines to make contact with new individuals.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
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Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
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Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
