Mammal
Black-faced Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus caissaraAlso known as Superagüi Lion Tamarin
Black-faced lion tamarins live in small, tightly knit family groups that navigate the dense canopy of Brazil's coastal restinga forests. They spend hours probing tree hollows and epiphytic bromeliads with slender fingers to forage for concealed insects, small lizards, and fruit. Group members share parental duties cooperatively, carrying twin infants on their backs and constantly vocalizing with high-pitched chirps to maintain contact across the tangled vegetation.
ArborealDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyTree crickets, Bromeliad treefrogs, Wild figs
Predators
- Ocelot
- Tayra
- Guiana Crested Eagle
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, illegal heart of palm harvesting, extremely small geographic range
HabitatsLowland coastal Atlantic forest, swamp forest, and restinga
Life span10–15 years in the wild
Classification
- FamilyCallitrichidae
- SpeciesLeontopithecus caissara
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Easily identified by golden-orange body fur starkly contrasting with an all-black head, mane, forearms, and tail.
- Support conservation
- Keep quiet, observe through binoculars from marked trails, and never attempt to feed, pursue, or call to wild groups.
Responsible observation
- Viewing Etiquette: Maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to avoid causing stress or altering natural foraging movements.
- Habitat Protection: Stay on established reserve trails to avoid damaging delicate understory plants and bromeliads.
- Sound Clues: Listen for soft, birdlike trills and chuck calls resonating through the mid-canopy during early morning.
Neighbor (c) Miguelrangeljr, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Guilherme Siniciato Terra Garbino, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Guilherme Siniciato Terra Garbino · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Thomas Bresson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Fábio Olmos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Fábio Olmos · cc-by
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