Black-faced Lion Tamarin

• Common Name: Black-faced Lion Tamarin
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1990
• Monkey Size: 30.5 to 30.5 cm (12.01 to 12.01 in)
• Skin Color(s): Golden-orange
• Habitat: Rainforest
• Diet: Herbivorous
• Native Countries: Brazil

The black-faced lion tamarin^[1], also known as Superagüi Lion Tamarin, is a small New-World primate in the Callitrichidae family.

• It is critically endangered and native to the coastal forests of southeastern Brazil.
• The 4 species of lion tamarins, including Leontopithecus caissara, are also called the “kings of the jungle. “.
• Their small, wrinkled faces are surrounded by hair tufts resembling a lion’s mane.
• The tamarins’ arms, mane, and tail are black, while the rest of the body is golden in color.
• The black-faced lion tamarin has non-opposable thumbs, long fingers for catching fruit and insects, and claw-like nails for digging insects from under tree bark.

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), Tayras (Eira barbara), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Águila Elegante (Spizaetus ornatus), Águila Tiranas (Spizaetus tyrannus) and Jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) consume Black-faced Lion Tamarins.

• Black-faced lion tamarins are diurnal and seek refuge in hollows or tree holes at night.
• They live in large family groups of 2 to 8 members. Within these family groups, there is usually only a breeding female per season.
• These tamarins usually vary their resting places to avoid predators.
• Mainland populations prefer flooded and swampy secondary forests as a habitat. However, the island population mainly uses the high-lowland forest and the arboreal restinga as their primary habitat.
• Black-faced lion tamarins are one of the rarest mammals in the world. They are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.