Head to head
Black Lion Tamarin vs Golden Lion Tamarin
Black Lion Tamarin
VS Golden Lion Tamarin
The black lion tamarin and golden lion tamarin are two lion tamarins of Brazil's Atlantic forest, small maned monkeys that both depend on tiny remnants of forest.
| Black Lion Tamarin | Golden Lion Tamarin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Leontopithecus chrysopygus | Leontopithecus rosalia |
| Coat | Jet black with golden fur on the rump, thighs, and base of the tail, and a mane around the face | A blazing golden-orange coat with a long silky mane framing the face and shoulders |
| Range | Fragments of Atlantic forest in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo | A small area of Atlantic Forest along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state |
| Foraging | Uses long, thin fingers to feel for insects and small animals hidden in bromeliads and crevices | Uses long, slender fingers to dig prey from bark crevices and bromeliads |
| Family life | Lives in small family groups in which several members help to carry and raise the young | Lives in extended-family groups of 2 to 8, in which older offspring help carry the usual twins |
| Population | About a thousand animals are thought to remain | More than 4,800 in the wild, up from about 200 in the 1970s |
| Conservation work | Forest protection and captive breeding | A coordinated international breeding programme, reintroductions, and habitat corridors |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Endangered, with an increasing population |
Black Lion Tamarin vs Golden Lion Tamarin: common questions
Which lion tamarin is black?
The black lion tamarin, which has a jet-black coat with golden fur on its rump, thighs, and the base of its tail.
Which lion tamarin has recovered?
The golden lion tamarin, which rebounded from about 200 animals in the 1970s to more than 4,800 through breeding, reintroductions, and habitat corridors.
Where do the black and golden lion tamarins live?
The black lion tamarin lives in forest fragments in the interior of Sao Paulo state, while the golden lion tamarin lives along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.