Golden Lion Tamarin (GLT) Facts
Total number of GLTs in the wild: 1,500
Total number of GLTs that live in captivity: 450
Number of zoos that have GLTs in their animal collections: 153
Habitat: Atlantic coastal rainforest in Brazil, running along the coast from the north part of Brazil all the way down to Uruguay. GLTs are found about 70 km northwest of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The coastal rainforest is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Only about 2 percent of the GLTs' original territory still exists. GLTs are protected in two biological reserves: Poço das Antas and Fazenda Uniao.
Interesting facts:
- GLTs are a type of New World monkey. They are about the size of squirrels. They weigh approximately 1-1/2 pounds and have a 12-inch tail.
- GLTs live in family groups of up to six to nine individuals. This includes dad, mom, and older brothers and sisters. The GLT dad and brothers and sisters all help to raise new babies.
- GLTs normally give birth to fraternal (not identical) twins.
- GLTs leave home to find their own mates when they are approximately 18 months old.
- GLTs are omnivores—they eat fruit, insects, small lizards, and birds' eggs.
- GLTs have claws instead of fingernails. They use their long fingers to forage for insects in cracks and crevices in trees.
- GLTs live in the subcanopy, trees in the rainforest that grow below larger trees. GLTs prefer swamp forest, which contains many vines and bromeliads, and has a high density of fruit.
- Hawks and other raptors, cats, and large snakes are the
main predators of GLTs.
