Animal Guide

Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin

20 destinations · 15 states

Native Range: Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil

Golden-headed lion tamarins are small monkeys with a striking dark body and a shaggy golden mane that frames the face. Their appearance catches your eye, but watching how they move is even more rewarding. They scramble through branches with surprising speed, using their hands and claw-like nails to grip bark as they search for fruit, insects, nectar, and small vertebrates. A group may seem to disappear into dense foliage, only to reappear moments later on a nearby branch. Social life is easy to spot, too. Family members groom one another, stay close while traveling, and help care for young. Golden-headed lion tamarins spend much of their time in the forest canopy, where tangled vegetation gives them plenty of places to climb and investigate. Look for the way they pause to inspect a branch or reach into a crevice for food before moving on. Their restless foraging and sudden bursts of movement can turn a quiet exhibit into a miniature glimpse of life in Brazil's Atlantic Forest.

Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin

Where to see Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin

20 destinations across 15 states

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