|
|
|
Golden Lion Tamarin1
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Hello everybody,
Back from a natural holiday in Brazil.
The first day we visited Reserva Biológica de Poço das Antas, a forest 140 km north of Rio. With rangers of the WWF we searched for the Golden Lion Tamarins, an endangered species. We found a group and made some pictures.
Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) also known as Golden Marmoset, is a small New World monkey of the family Cebidae. Native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, the Golden Lion Tamarin is an endangered species and among the rarest animals in the world, with an estimated wild population of 1,000 individuals and a captive population of approximately 500.
Description
As its name would suggest, this lion tamarin is a reddish orange to golden brown in colour. Its hair is longer and darker around the face, forming a mane on top of the head and on the cheeks and throat. Its limbs are slender yet capable with sharp claws, befitting its strictly arboreal life. Although quite long, its tail is not prehensile. The tail and forepaws of this monkey may have a black coloration. Its body may be up to 335 millimeters in length and its tail up to 400 mm. The Golden Lion Tamarin male reaches a maximum weight of just 700 grams in the wild though higher weights can be found in captivity. The pregnant female may weigh up to 790 grams but a non-gestating female typically weighs closer to 550 grams
Habitat
Most of the wild population is confined to the Reserva Biológica de Poço das Antas, a protected area of swampy forests in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is an important bastion of the Golden Lion Tamarin, as only 2% of forests in the monkey's original range remains. Furthermore, its existing habitat has been broken up by logging and agriculture; this has led to isolated populations and inbreeding, a combination likely to result in extinction.
A high canopy with dense tangles of vines is required by the Golden Lion Tamarin; other than providing a home, the labyrinthine forest affords some degree of protection from its many predators. Its main predators are raptors, large cats and snakes. The canopy also provides an important source of food; the omnivorous lion tamarins rely on rainwater and insects concentrated in the reservoirs of bromeliads and other small animals inhabiting the bark of trees. Fruit is also eaten.
Behaviour and reproduction
The Golden Lion Tamarin is diurnal and primarily arboreal, forming small groups of up to fourteen individuals, led by a breeding pair; occasionally two unrelated males may be involved, but only one typically mates with the lead female. The group patrols a consistent territory of c. 400,000 square metres ; fighting between groups is avoided by scent marking and "ritual encounters". By night, the tamarins sleep in abandoned nesting holes in trees, or in large bromeliads.
The group is cooperative in the rearing of young; however, only the dominant female usually breeds. The males are responsible for the bulk of rearing duties, with the mother nursing and providing transportation for the infant during its first week of life. Resources are shared among the group, as are predator surveillance duties. The young are well cared for until adolescence. Unlike other primates, both males and females leave the group; their rate of survival is low, as less than one quarter successfully integrate into a new group or establish themselves in an unoccupied territory.
Fully mature at 2-3 years, the Golden Lion Tamarin is able to breed at 18 months of age. The breeding season is from September to March. Gestation lasts for 126-130 days, usually ending in twin births; there may be up to two litters annually. The young tamarins are weaned after just 90 days; less than half of infants survive their first year of life. If they do, a lifespan of 8-15 years can be expected. One captive tamarin has been reported to be 28 years old.
We were informated about the work of WWF in an attempt to curb the Golden Lion Tamarin's precipitous decline, several conservation programmes have been undertaken. The intent is to strengthen the wild population and maintain a secure captive population in zoos worldwide. The survival rate of re-introduced animals has been encouraging, but destruction of unprotected habitat continues. |
nglen, jaycee, Jamesp, kjpweb, Argus, wingle has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
- nglen
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2129 W: 9 N: 5957]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(22516) - [2007-08-19 9:45]
-
Hi Peter. hope you had a good time. This is an excellent shot. the detail in the fur with sharp focusing is first class. with rich colours. you have captured the light in the eyes so well. A nice POV/DOF. very well done TFS. great notes too.
Nick..
Have a good week.
-
- jaycee
(16017)
- [2007-08-19 9:47]
-
Hi Peter,
You could have called this Beautiful Blue Eyes. Those eyes steal the picture. What a wonderful looking animal this is - I haven't heard of it before. Wonderful capture. The pose is marvelous. The expression on his face is marvelous. The colors are marvelous. The details are marvelous. His coat is superb. Beautiful shot - I love it.
Jane
-
- Arjun
(3692)
- [2007-08-19 10:21]
-
hi peter,
a great picture.very good compo and xcellent POV.nice hairstyle too!!!!!
tfs
Hi Peter,
Beautiful shot excellent details in the fur
great POV, and composition, well done, TFS. Best regards/Lawhill
-
- Jamesp
(15138)
- [2007-08-19 23:37]
-
Hi Peter
Amazing shot of a wild tamarin. I have tried to photograph them a few times but find them so difficult as they move so fast and it is usually so dark in the forest - so mega kudos for this!!
Graet POV and detail.
TFS
James
-
- kjpweb
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 86 N: 1084]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4788) - [2007-08-20 4:45]
-
Wow - that sounds like a great vacation! Well captured - he/she looks as if just visited a coiffeur! ;)
Good detail - only nit the flash effect in the eye.
Well done! Cheers, Klaus
-
- Argus
(24747)
- [2007-08-21 6:55]
-
Hello Peter,
A fine capture of the Golden Lion Tamarin: it must be quite an experience to see this rare little monkey in the wild and you made a sharp and well illuminated shot, well composed in the natural habitat.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan
Hi Peter,
Very nice and good portrait of this endangered monkey species. You´ve done well!
Regards
Hernán
-
- wingle
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 38 W: 2 N: 79]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif)
(415) - [2007-09-28 23:23]
-
Hi Peter,
Great shot of this endangered monkey! Very good text decription as well. The golden fur and gun metal blue eyes are beautifully captured. Thanks for sharing!
Wing
