Hobbies And Interests
Identification
Adult golden lion tamarins usually measure between 7.5 and 8.75 inches in length. A long tail adds up to an additional 13.5 inches onto this length. The average weight of an adult golden lion tamarin is between 14 and 29 ounces. Male and female golden lion tamarins are similar in appearance, with a black face surrounded by orange fur that resembles a lion's mane. The remainder of the golden lion tamarin's body, except for its hands and feet, are also covered in orange fur.
Feeding Habits
Golden lion tamarins travel through the trees of their forest habitat searching for food during the day. Their omnivorous diet is made up of food such as fruit, birds, small lizards and insects. The golden lion tamarin's long, thin, dextrous fingers are adapted to allow them to search for prey in small spaces, such as in tree crevices. Their fingers also help them catch other animals and pick fruit from trees. Older golden lion tamarins may share food with younger tamarins in their community.
Arboreal Life
The golden lion tamarin is largely arboreal, spending the vast majority of its time in trees. Adaptations such as long, slender limbs, sharp claws to grasp onto trees and a long tail to aid balance help the golden lion tamarin to thrive in its dense, swampy forest habitat. Golden lion tamarins build nests by lining tree hollows with fur. These nests help keep the animals warm when they sleep in them at night and also help protect them from predators while they are sleeping. One of the few occasions in which the golden lion tamarin descends to the forest floor is when it drops to the ground to escape predators such as snakes or birds of prey. Golden lion tamarins are territorial animals that mark the boundaries of their territories with a substance that is secreted from scent glands.
Life Cycle
Male golden lion tamarins reach sexual maturity at the age of around 18 months while females usually become mature enough to reproduce when they are around 24 months old. Golden lion tamarins form monogamous breeding pairs and usually mate in April or May. After a gestation period of between 126 and 130 days, the female tamarin usually gives birth to two babies. Both parents share the responsibility of raising young. Females nurse their young while males do the majority of the carrying. Golden lion tamarin infants are usually fully weaned by the time they are 90 days old.