Mammals
Black Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus chrysopygus · also called golden-rumped lion tamarin
Among the bromeliads of an Atlantic forest fragment in Sao Paulo, a black lion tamarin feels inside a leaf rosette with long thin fingers, its golden rump bright against a jet-black coat.
Overview
The black lion tamarin, Leontopithecus chrysopygus, is an Endangered monkey found only in a few fragments of Atlantic forest in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. Its black coat and golden rump, finger-probing foraging, and tiny remaining range make it one of the rarest primates in the Americas.
A monkey of the last forest fragments
Because so little of its Atlantic forest home remains, protecting and reconnecting the surviving fragments is the key to the black lion tamarin’s future.
Status
Endangered, with a decreasing population.
Black Lion Tamarin: common questions
Why is it called the black lion tamarin?
It has a jet-black coat and a mane of long hair around the face like a lion, along with golden fur on its rump.
Why is the black lion tamarin endangered?
It survives in only a few fragments of Atlantic forest in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, where forest has been cleared.
How does the black lion tamarin find food?
It uses its long, thin fingers to feel for insects and small animals hidden in bromeliads and crevices.
Where is the black lion tamarin found?
It lives in fragments of Atlantic forest in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.