This website was completed by John Doehring in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2007.

Golden Lion Tamarin

(Leontopithecus rosalia)

Summary

Golden Lion Tamarins are polyandrous Callitrichid primates. They are omnivorous creatures that feed primarily on insects and fruit, resources that are dependent on seasonal rainfall. They practice "predator-sensitive foraging" during the morning and search for sleeping sites during the afternoon. Dominance hierarchies are present among both males and females, and they practice cooperative breeding. Golden lion tamarins are often an exception to the rule - examples include their willingness to provision food with group members and their reliance on exclusively behavioral methods to enforce dominance status. These precious creatures face imminent extinction as the areas in which they live grow increasingly threatened by deforestation everyday.

Any questions regarding the content or design of this website should be sent to John Doehring or to Dr. Verna Case, Chair of the Biology Department at Davidson College.