Black Lion Tamarin

• Common Name: Black Lion Tamarin
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1823
• Monkey Size: 20 to 33.5 cm (7.87 to 13.19 in)
• Skin Color(s): Black
• Habitat: Forest, rainforest
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Brazil

The black lion tamarin^[1], also called the golden-rumped lion tamarin, is a lion tamarin native to the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, almost exclusively in Morro do Diabo State Park.

• Black lion tamarin is almost completely covered with dense, silky black hairs. There are only differences at the rear.
• The buttocks, thighs, and underside of the tail are reddish brown. This gives the primate its common name, the golden-rumped lion tamarin.
• The face of the species is hairless, as are the hands and feet, which are black to dark gray.
• The black lion tamarin’s hind legs are generally longer than the front legs, and the tail is not prehensile.
• All toes have a sharp, crescent-shaped nail used for grasping trees, except for the big toe with a flat nail.

The Black Lion Tamarin feeds on variety of food sources including^[¶]:

• Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
• Barbados Shrub (Pereskia aculeata)
• Iguana Hackberry (Celtis iguanaea)
• Shortleaf Fig (Ficus citrifolia)
• Birds (Aves)
• Répteis (Reptilia)

Cobra (Serpentes), Chouettes (Strigiformes), Falconiforms (Falconiformes) and Cats (Felidae) predate Black Lion Tamarins^[§].

• Its limited geographic range makes it the rarest of the New-World monkeys.
• Within the Leontopithecus genus, the black lion tamarin is the largest. It has the lowest calls but uses more extended tones than other species.
• They are typically found in groups of 4-9 and live in primary and secondary forests along the perimeter of their home range.
• The black lion tamarin monkey’s seasonal diet varies depending on its travel habitats.
• The species uses calls to defend its territory, attract a mate, maintain group cohesion, and make contact with members that may have been lost.