The four species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of lion tamarins make up the genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 Leontopithecus. They are small New World monkey

New World monkey

New World monkeys are the five families of primates that are found in Central and South America: Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, and Atelidae. The five families are ranked together as the Platyrrhini parvorder and the Ceboidea superfamily, which are essentially synonymous since...

s named for the mane surrounding their face. Living in the eastern rainforests of Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, like all other callitrichids 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

Diurnal animal

Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...

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

Species list

The different species of lion tamarins are easily discernible from each other, based upon the coloration of their fur:

• Golden Lion Tamarin
  Golden Lion Tamarin
  The golden lion tamarin also known as the golden marmoset, is a small New World monkey of the family Callitrichidae...
  
  , L. rosalia — golden fur all over, mane sometimes darkening or black
• Golden-headed Lion Tamarin
  Golden-headed Lion Tamarin
  The golden-headed lion tamarin is a lion tamarin endemic to Brazil. It is found only in the lowland and premontane tropical forest fragments in the state of Bahia, and therefore is considered to be an endangered species. It lives at heights of . Its preferred habitat is within mature forest, but...
  
  , L. chrysomelas — black fur with golden face, arms, and tail
• Black
  Black Lion Tamarin
  The black lion tamarin also known as the golden-rumped lion tamarin is a lion tamarin endemic to the Brazilian state of São Paulo, almost exclusively at the Morro do Diabo State Park. The lion tamarins are of the rarest of the New world monkeys and for this reason, so little is none about them...
  
   or Golden-rumped Lion Tamarin, L. chrysopygus — black fur with a dark gold rump
• Superagui
  Superagui Lion Tamarin
  The Superagui lion tamarin is a small New World primate of the family Callitrichidae. It is an endemic Brazilian lion tamarin, found in a small area in the coastal Atlantic Forest region of southeast Brazil, and named after a man-made island called Superagui.-External links:*ARKive - *...
  
  or Black-faced Lion Tamarin, L. caissara — golden fur with black face, arms, and tails

External links

• http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/tamarin.html
• Primate Info Net Leontopithecus Factsheets